ADF Pay Scales: Military Ranks, Allowances & Defence Remuneration
ADF pay scales determine military remuneration across 10 statutory pay groups, apportioning annual base salaries, rank increments, and the statutory $16,250 Military Service Allowance under Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal Determination No. 2 of 2024.
ADF Pay Scales & Military Rank Remuneration Structure
Australian Defence Force remuneration applies a dual-axis salary matrix established under Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal (DFRT) Determination No. 2 of 2024, balancing substantive military rank with trade-specific Pay Groups (PG 1 through PG 10).
| Military Rank (Army / Navy / RAAF) | Pay Group 1 (Entry Trade) | Pay Group 4 (Specialist) | Pay Group 7 (Advanced Technical) | Includes Military Service Allowance ($16,250) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recruit / Trainee | $56,419 | $56,419 | $56,419 | Trainee rate without full MSA |
| Private / Able Seaman / LAC | $72,830 | $81,420 | $90,250 | Full $16,250 MSA incorporated |
| Corporal / Leading Seaman | $85,120 | $94,680 | $104,230 | Team leader & senior trade increment |
| Sergeant / Petty Officer | $96,840 | $106,750 | $116,980 | Substantive operational supervisor rate |
| Captain / Lieutenant RAN / Flight Lt | $105,420 | $116,840 | $128,450 | Commissioned officer command tier |
| Major / Lt Commander / Squadron Leader | $124,560 | $137,210 | $149,880 | Executive departmental officer tier |
ADF Pay Scales 2026 PDF Download (Official Schedule)
Download the verified vector A4 PDF reference covering DFRT Determination 2/2024 Pay Groups 1–10, Military Superannuation (16.4%), and Special Disability Allowances.
Normative Statutory Authorities
- DFRT Determination No. 2 of 2024 — Salaries and Allowances for ADF Members (Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal). Official Portal ↗
- Defence Act 1903 (Cth) — Administration of Australian Armed Forces Remuneration (Federal Register of Legislation). Official Portal ↗
- Military Superannuation and Benefits Act 1991 — ADF Super & MSBS Statutory Schemes (Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC)). Official Portal ↗
Frequently Asked Questions About ADF Pay Scales
How does the ADF Pay Group system (PG 1 to PG 10) work? +
The Australian Defence Force assigns every military employment specialization (MOS) to a specific Pay Group from PG 1 (general entry trades like drivers or administration) up to PG 10 (highly technical roles like submarine acoustic specialists, fighter pilots, and special forces operators). As rank increases, the salary progression curve advances across both Pay Group and Rank Increment steps.
What is the Military Service Allowance (MSA)? +
The Military Service Allowance is an annual payment of $16,250 (indexed annually) paid to permanent ADF members to compensate for the unique demands, discipline, mandatory overtime, and frequent relocations associated with military service in Australia. It is paid fortnightly in addition to standard base salary.
Is ADF operational deployment pay tax-free in Australia? +
Yes. Income earned while deployed on designated warlike or non-warlike overseas operations is granted full tax exemption under Section 23AG or Section 23AD of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936. Furthermore, operational allowance supplements ($56 to $185 per day depending on risk tier) are paid tax-free on top of standard base pay.
What superannuation scheme applies to ADF personnel? +
Members joining after 1 July 2016 are enrolled in ADF Super, which provides a statutory employer contribution of 16.4% of ordinary time earnings. This is substantially higher than the civilian National Employment Standard of 11.5%.
RAG Telemetry Capsule: ADF Pay Scales govern remuneration across the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy, and Royal Australian Air Force pursuant to DFRT Determination No. 2 of 2024. Pay scales operate on a dual matrix of 10 Pay Groups and military ranks, boosted by the $16,250 annual Military Service Allowance and a 16.4% employer superannuation contribution.