SA Dental Officer Salary Scales
Dental Officers
Dental Officers stream
6 bands · $117,985–$237,666
Notes
- ·Rates are effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2025, under the SA Public Sector Enterprise Agreement: Salaried 2026, approved by the South Australian Employment Tribunal on 4 March 2026.
- ·Further increases are scheduled from 1 July 2026 and 1 July 2027 under the same agreement.
- ·ASO Level 1 rates shown are adult rates only.
- ·MAS 3 is closed to new appointments following SAET approval on 4 March 2026; existing MAS 3 employees retain their classification.
- ·Dental Officers and Grant Funded Scientists are specialist streams covered by separate schedules within this agreement.
Salaries are indicative and based on publicly available data. Verify with your agency HR for accurate, role-specific information.
Salary Snapshot
SA Dental Officers salary bands, shown per year.
Entry salary
$117,985
DO-1
Top salary
$237,666
DO-6
Midpoint band
$209,297
DO-4
Classifications
6
Dental Officers stream
Classification range chart
Min to max salary within the currently selected jurisdiction and stream
Find your rough pay
Pick a public service and classification to preview the annual range, midpoint take-home pay, and employer super.
Choose the stream before picking a classification.
The midpoint sits in the lower third of the public service pay range.
Find the level for your target pay
Enter the annual salary you want and choose a jurisdiction to see the closest published classification levels.
Choose the stream first so nursing, legal, technical, and general bands are not mixed together.
Earning around $209,000?
Calculate your exact take-home pay
See how much you'll actually receive after tax, Medicare & super.
Dental Officers — South Australia
The Dental Officer stream covers registered dentists employed across SA Health and the state's public dental services. Classifications run from DO-1 for graduate-entry dentists, through senior and principal grades, up to DO-6 for the Chief Dental Officer. Dental Officers sit on a specialist salary schedule within the SA Public Sector Enterprise Agreement: Salaried, distinct from the ASO administrative stream, with progression by annual increment within each classification and by promotion to a higher grade.
Source: SA Public Sector Enterprise Agreement: Salaried 2026
Superannuation: South Australian public sector employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
Key Information
SA salary facts, agreement context and conditions to check before comparing pay.
Effective date
Rates are effective from the first full pay period on or after 1 August 2025, under the SA Public Sector Enterprise Agreement: Salaried 2026, approved by the South Australian Employment Tribunal on 4 March 2026.
Scheduled change
Further increases are scheduled from 1 July 2026 and 1 July 2027 under the same agreement.
Classification note
ASO Level 1 rates shown are adult rates only.
Classification note
MAS 3 is closed to new appointments following SAET approval on 4 March 2026; existing MAS 3 employees retain their classification.
Classification note
Dental Officers and Grant Funded Scientists are specialist streams covered by separate schedules within this agreement.
Compare Pay Scales
Switch classification streams or compare public service salary scales across jurisdictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DO-1 salary?
A Dental Officers DO-1 earns $117,985 to $143,772 per year as set by the SA Public Sector Enterprise Agreement: Salaried 2026. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $88,000–$105,000 per year. This classification covers dental officer roles. SA employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the DO-2 salary?
A Dental Officers DO-2 earns $153,145 to $168,778 per year as set by the SA Public Sector Enterprise Agreement: Salaried 2026. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $110,000–$119,000 per year. This classification covers senior dental officer roles. SA employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the DO-3 salary?
A Dental Officers DO-3 earns $182,953 to $189,056 per year as set by the SA Public Sector Enterprise Agreement: Salaried 2026. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $128,000–$131,000 per year. This classification covers principal dental officer roles. SA employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the DO-4 salary?
A Dental Officers DO-4 earns $209,297 to $209,297 per year as set by the SA Public Sector Enterprise Agreement: Salaried 2026. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $142,000–$142,000 per year. This classification covers senior principal dental officer roles. SA employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the DO-5 salary?
A Dental Officers DO-5 earns $223,162 to $223,162 per year as set by the SA Public Sector Enterprise Agreement: Salaried 2026. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $149,000–$149,000 per year. This classification covers deputy chief dental officer roles. SA employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the DO-6 salary?
A Dental Officers DO-6 earns $237,666 to $237,666 per year as set by the SA Public Sector Enterprise Agreement: Salaried 2026. After income tax and Medicare levy, take-home pay is approximately $156,000–$156,000 per year. This classification covers chief dental officer roles. SA employees receive 12% employer superannuation.
What is the starting salary for a government dentist in South Australia?
A newly registered dentist entering at DO-1 earns $117,985 per year (Increment 1), rising to $143,772 by Increment 5. Most graduates enter at DO-1 Increment 1, with annual progression through the pay points.
What does a Chief Dental Officer earn in SA?
The DO-6 classification (Chief Dental Officer) carries a flat rate of $237,666 per year, while the Deputy Chief (DO-5) earns $223,162. These are among the highest classifications in the SA public sector.
How does SA Dental Officer pay compare to private practice?
SA Government Dental Officers earn $117,985–$237,666 depending on classification. Government roles offer the security of an enterprise agreement, access to defined-benefit superannuation schemes, and structured career progression — benefits not always available in private practice.