Cross-country comparison
SES-1 (Australia) vs GS-12 (United States)
Australia · APS classification (enterprise-agreement pay)
SES-1
Senior Executive Service Band 1 — branch head / senior director level.
$179,758 – $274,356
FY 2024 · annual base · AUD
View full SES-1 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 SES-1 in the Australia federal civil service earns between $179,758 and $274,356 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.