Executive Assistant Salary Guide 2026–27: Pay, Take-Home & Benchmarks

Executive Assistant Salary: What You Can Expect

If you are looking at an executive assistant salary in Australia, the figures vary by industry, experience, and employer. This guide pulls together the most current public data from the Australian Public Service, Jobs and Skills Australia, and the ATO to give you a clear picture of what reaches your bank account.

Where the Numbers Come From

The most detailed public source is the Australian Public Service enterprise agreements. Agencies such as the ATO, Services Australia, Defence, Home Affairs, and Treasury publish their pay scales. For 2026, the typical executive assistant salary range is:

• APS 4 (entry level): $77,865 – $90,500
• APS 5 (senior executive assistant): $88,085 – $102,500
• APS 6 (executive assistant to SES): $100,190 – $123,500

These are base salaries before super. The ATO temporary employment register lists a range of $84,028 to $99,307 plus 15.4% super for executive assistant roles.

Outside the APS, Jobs and Skills Australia reported a median gross weekly earning of $1,832 for personal assistants in May 2025. Annualised, that is $95,264. This group includes executive assistants, so it is a useful benchmark for the broader market.

How Your Salary Compares to National Benchmarks

To put an executive assistant salary in context, compare it to two key benchmarks:

• National minimum wage: $26.44 per hour, $1,004.90 per week, annualised $52,255 (from Fair Work Ombudsman, 1 July 2026).
• Full-time adult ordinary time earnings: $2,083.70 per week, annualised $108,352 (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026, seasonally adjusted).

Even at the lowest APS 4 level, an executive assistant salary is about 50% above the minimum wage. At the median of $95,264, it sits just below the full-time ordinary time average. At the top APS 6 range, it exceeds that average.

Take-Home Pay After Tax and Medicare

Your take-home pay is what actually lands in your account. Using the median gross of $95,264 and 2026–27 tax settings, here is an estimate:

• Gross salary: $95,264
• Income tax: –$18,799
• Medicare levy (2%): –$1,885
• Take-home pay: $74,580 per year (about $6,215 per month or $1,434 per week)

This estimate uses the latest published single-person Medicare thresholds ($28,011 and $35,013) and assumes you are a resident claiming the tax-free threshold with no HELP debt. If you have a HELP debt, the repayment could be up to $3,710, reducing take-home to about $70,869.

Remember, super is paid on top of your salary, not deducted from it. At the 12% rate from 1 July 2026, that adds about $11,432 to your total remuneration package.

Factors That Affect Your Executive Assistant Salary

Your actual executive assistant salary depends on:

• Agency or employer: APS agencies have slightly different pay scales. For example, Treasury pays APS 4 from $82,500, while Services Australia starts at $77,865.
• Classification level: APS 4 to APS 6 covers most EA roles. Higher classifications (EL1) are rare for EAs.
• Location: Some roles in Canberra or Sydney may include a market loading.
• Experience: Senior executive assistants with SES support duties earn at the top of the range.

Super and Total Remuneration

Super is a key part of your package. In the APS, the standard super contribution is 15.4% (above the national 12% minimum). For a $95,264 salary, that means an extra $14,584 in super per year. Your total remuneration package (salary plus super) can be $110,000 or more.

Using This Guide

This guide is for information only. Your actual executive assistant salary and take-home pay will depend on your specific employment agreement and personal tax situation. For a personalised estimate, use our Take-home pay calculator. To see how your salary stacks up against other roles, check our Benchmarks page.