Cross-country comparison
APS-5 (Australia) vs GS-12 (United States)
Australia · APS classification (enterprise-agreement pay)
APS-5
APS Level 5 — professional-level generalist and specialist roles.
$80,341 – $92,670
FY 2024 · annual base · AUD
View full APS-5 detail →United States · General Schedule (GS)
GS-12
Senior specialist and first-line supervisor level. Most common grade for experienced federal professionals.
$76,463 – $99,404
FY 2026 · annual base · USD
View full GS-12 detail →How they compare
A APS-5 in the Australia federal civil service earns between $80,341 and $92,670 per year at base rates, while a GS-12 in the United States federal civil service earns between $76,463 and $99,404. Both figures are annual base in each country’s currency, before locality adjustments, allowances, or bonuses.
Responsibilities at these grades are not directly comparable — each country’s civil service uses its own classification framework. See the linked authoritative sources for role scoping.