Northern Territory Public Service Salary Scales
Compare salary scales across Australian federal and state public services
Northern Territory Public Service
| Classification | Range | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
Administrative Officer 2 (AO2) Entry level administrative officer roles | $62,069Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | $67,210Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | |
Administrative Officer 3 (AO3) Administrative officer roles | $68,776Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | $73,898Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | |
Administrative Officer 4 (AO4) Experienced administrative officer roles | $77,344Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | $88,179Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | |
Administrative Officer 5 (AO5) Senior administrative officer roles | $90,946Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | $95,468Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | |
Administrative Officer 6 (AO6) Advanced administrative officer roles | $99,519Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | $110,953Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | |
Administrative Officer 7 (AO7) Team leader and specialist roles | $117,356Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | $126,251Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | |
Senior Administrative Officer 1 (SAO1) Senior specialist and supervisory roles | $132,408Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | $147,919Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | |
Senior Administrative Officer 2 (SAO2) Senior management roles | $152,751Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | $166,487Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | |
Executive Officer 2 (EO2) Executive management roles | $176,699Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | $176,699Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | |
Executive Officer 3 (EO3) Senior executive roles | $181,724Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ | $181,724Use in calc →Open in tax calculator ↗ |
Notes
- ·Rates effective 17 November 2025 — NTPS Enterprise Agreement 2025–2029
- ·Employees progress one pay point after 12 months of continuous service
- ·Next scheduled increase: ~3% on 13 August 2026
- ·AO1 classification removed after classification review
Salary Snapshot
NT Administrative Officers salary bands, shown per year.
Entry salary
$62,069
Administrative Officer 2 (AO2)
Top salary
$181,724
Executive Officer 3 (EO3)
Midpoint band
$121,804
Administrative Officer 7 (AO7)
Classifications
10
Administrative Officers stream
Classification range ladder
Min to max salary within the currently selected jurisdiction and stream
Administrative Officer 2 (AO2)
Entry level administrative officer roles
Administrative Officer 3 (AO3)
Administrative officer roles
Administrative Officer 4 (AO4)
Experienced administrative officer roles
Administrative Officer 5 (AO5)
Senior administrative officer roles
Administrative Officer 6 (AO6)
Advanced administrative officer roles
Administrative Officer 7 (AO7)
Team leader and specialist roles
Senior Administrative Officer 1 (SAO1)
Senior specialist and supervisory roles
Senior Administrative Officer 2 (SAO2)
Senior management roles
Executive Officer 2 (EO2)
Executive management roles
Executive Officer 3 (EO3)
Senior executive roles
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The Australian Public Service (APS) employs over 150,000 people across the country.
About Northern Territory Public Service Salary Scales
The default guide view for Northern Territory Public Service highlights the Administrative Officers with 10 classification levels — from Administrative Officer 2 (AO2) ($62,069–$67,210) up to Executive Officer 3 (EO3) ($181,724–$181,724). Salaries are reviewed and updated through enterprise agreements and government determinations.
Superannuation: NT employees receive 12% employer superannuation. This matches the standard Superannuation Guarantee rate.
Salary Data Last Updated
17 November 2025 — Source: NTPS Enterprise Agreement 2025–2029 Rates shown are effective from 17 November 2025. The agreement also includes a later salary column from 13 August 2026, but that future table is not shown here.
Key Information
- Rates effective 17 November 2025 — NTPS Enterprise Agreement 2025–2029
- Employees progress one pay point after 12 months of continuous service
- Next scheduled increase: ~3% on 13 August 2026
- AO1 classification removed after classification review
Classification Streams
Compare with Other Jurisdictions
See how NT salaries compare with other Australian public service jurisdictions:
NT Administrative Officers Salary Guide by Classification
Quick reference for every Northern Territory Public Service Administrative Officers classification and what it pays in 2025–2026. All figures are annual gross salary. Select any level to calculate your take-home pay after tax, Medicare, and super.
Administrative Officer 2 (AO2) Salary
The Administrative Officer 2 (AO2) classification pays $62,069–$67,210 per year. Entry level administrative officer roles. Calculate Administrative Officer 2 (AO2)take-home pay →
Administrative Officer 3 (AO3) Salary
The Administrative Officer 3 (AO3) classification pays $68,776–$73,898 per year. Administrative officer roles. Calculate Administrative Officer 3 (AO3)take-home pay →
Administrative Officer 4 (AO4) Salary
The Administrative Officer 4 (AO4) classification pays $77,344–$88,179 per year. Experienced administrative officer roles. Calculate Administrative Officer 4 (AO4)take-home pay →
Administrative Officer 5 (AO5) Salary
The Administrative Officer 5 (AO5) classification pays $90,946–$95,468 per year. Senior administrative officer roles. Calculate Administrative Officer 5 (AO5)take-home pay →
Administrative Officer 6 (AO6) Salary
The Administrative Officer 6 (AO6) classification pays $99,519–$110,953 per year. Advanced administrative officer roles. Calculate Administrative Officer 6 (AO6)take-home pay →
Administrative Officer 7 (AO7) Salary
The Administrative Officer 7 (AO7) classification pays $117,356–$126,251 per year. Team leader and specialist roles. Calculate Administrative Officer 7 (AO7)take-home pay →
Senior Administrative Officer 1 (SAO1) Salary
The Senior Administrative Officer 1 (SAO1) classification pays $132,408–$147,919 per year. Senior specialist and supervisory roles. Calculate Senior Administrative Officer 1 (SAO1)take-home pay →
Senior Administrative Officer 2 (SAO2) Salary
The Senior Administrative Officer 2 (SAO2) classification pays $152,751–$166,487 per year. Senior management roles. Calculate Senior Administrative Officer 2 (SAO2)take-home pay →
Executive Officer 2 (EO2) Salary
The Executive Officer 2 (EO2) classification pays $176,699–$176,699 per year. Executive management roles. Calculate Executive Officer 2 (EO2)take-home pay →
Executive Officer 3 (EO3) Salary
The Executive Officer 3 (EO3) classification pays $181,724–$181,724 per year. Senior executive roles. Calculate Executive Officer 3 (EO3)take-home pay →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Administrative Officer 2 (AO2) salary?
An Administrative Officers Administrative Officer 2 (AO2) earns $62,069 to $67,210 per year as set by the NTPS Enterprise Agreement 2025–2029. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $51,000–$55,000 per year. This classification covers entry level administrative officer roles. NT employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Administrative Officer 3 (AO3) salary?
An Administrative Officers Administrative Officer 3 (AO3) earns $68,776 to $73,898 per year as set by the NTPS Enterprise Agreement 2025–2029. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $56,000–$59,000 per year. This classification covers administrative officer roles. NT employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Administrative Officer 4 (AO4) salary?
An Administrative Officers Administrative Officer 4 (AO4) earns $77,344 to $88,179 per year as set by the NTPS Enterprise Agreement 2025–2029. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $62,000–$69,000 per year. This classification covers experienced administrative officer roles. NT employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Administrative Officer 5 (AO5) salary?
An Administrative Officers Administrative Officer 5 (AO5) earns $90,946 to $95,468 per year as set by the NTPS Enterprise Agreement 2025–2029. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $71,000–$74,000 per year. This classification covers senior administrative officer roles. NT employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Administrative Officer 6 (AO6) salary?
An Administrative Officers Administrative Officer 6 (AO6) earns $99,519 to $110,953 per year as set by the NTPS Enterprise Agreement 2025–2029. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $77,000–$84,000 per year. This classification covers advanced administrative officer roles. NT employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Administrative Officer 7 (AO7) salary?
An Administrative Officers Administrative Officer 7 (AO7) earns $117,356 to $126,251 per year as set by the NTPS Enterprise Agreement 2025–2029. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $88,000–$93,000 per year. This classification covers team leader and specialist roles. NT employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Senior Administrative Officer 1 (SAO1) salary?
A Administrative Officers Senior Administrative Officer 1 (SAO1) earns $132,408 to $147,919 per year as set by the NTPS Enterprise Agreement 2025–2029. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $98,000–$107,000 per year. This classification covers senior specialist and supervisory roles. NT employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Senior Administrative Officer 2 (SAO2) salary?
A Administrative Officers Senior Administrative Officer 2 (SAO2) earns $152,751 to $166,487 per year as set by the NTPS Enterprise Agreement 2025–2029. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $110,000–$118,000 per year. This classification covers senior management roles. NT employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Executive Officer 2 (EO2) salary?
An Administrative Officers Executive Officer 2 (EO2) earns $176,699 to $176,699 per year as set by the NTPS Enterprise Agreement 2025–2029. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $124,000–$124,000 per year. This classification covers executive management roles. NT employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the Executive Officer 3 (EO3) salary?
An Administrative Officers Executive Officer 3 (EO3) earns $181,724 to $181,724 per year as set by the NTPS Enterprise Agreement 2025–2029. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $127,000–$127,000 per year. This classification covers senior executive roles. NT employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What are the current Northern Territory public service salary scales for 2025–2026?
Northern Territory public service salaries are set under the NTPS Enterprise Agreement 2021–2025. AO2 (entry) starts at $62,069–$67,210 and AO7 reaches $117,356–$126,251. Senior Administrative Officers (SAO1–SAO2) range from $132,408–$166,487, and Executive Officers (EO2–EO3) reach $176,699–$181,724. Rates were updated November 17, 2025.
How does NT public service pay compare to the APS?
Northern Territory (NT) public service salaries include a remote locality allowance for Darwin-based employees, which can significantly increase total remuneration. Base salaries are broadly comparable to APS levels. The NT also offers a housing assistance scheme in some roles, making the total package more competitive than base salary alone suggests.
When is the next NT public service salary increase?
The NT public service salary data on this site reflects rates effective August 2024 under the current NTPS Enterprise Agreement. The Northern Territory Government negotiates enterprise agreements with relevant unions, and increases are typically announced with several months' notice.
How does a HECS/HELP debt affect NT public service take-home pay?
NT public servants with a HECS/HELP debt have compulsory repayments withheld via PAYG once income exceeds $54,435 (2025–26 threshold). At an NT AO6 salary of ~$120,000, HECS repayments add approximately $7,500–$9,000 annually on top of income tax. Note that locality allowances are assessable income and also count towards your HECS repayment threshold. Use the Tax Calculator with the HECS toggle to see your exact take-home pay.
Can NT public servants salary sacrifice?
Yes. NT public servants can salary sacrifice into superannuation as concessional contributions. Some NT Government agencies and NT Health roles may also offer Remote Area Tax Concessions and PBI packaging benefits. Given Darwin's higher cost of living and isolation, the NT Government offers several additional allowances that can meaningfully increase total remuneration. Contact your agency's HR team for specific options.
What leave entitlements do NT public servants receive?
Under the NTPS Enterprise Agreement, NT public servants receive 20 days annual leave per year plus an additional 5 days for Darwin-based employees (25 days total), 15 days personal leave (cumulative), and long service leave at 1/65th of service per year. The extra annual leave for Darwin-based staff reflects the remote location hardship and is a meaningful benefit not available in mainland states.
How does NT public service pay compare to QLD and SA?
NT AO5–7 salaries ($96,000–$126,000) are broadly comparable to Queensland administrative stream Levels 5–6 and SA ASO5–6. NT employees also receive locality allowances (Darwin: up to ~$9,000 per year) that bring total remuneration above equivalent mainland classifications. The 12% standard superannuation applies in all three jurisdictions. Darwin's higher cost of groceries and utilities compared to Brisbane and Adelaide partially offsets the locality allowance advantage.
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