SES salaries grew faster than non-SES in 2022, new stats show.

In 2022, senior executive service (SES) employees in the federal public service saw their wages grow at a faster rate than their non-SES counterparts, as revealed in the latest APS remuneration report.

According to the report, SES weighted median base salaries surged by 4 per cent during 2022, while non-SES salaries saw a more modest uptick of 1.7 per cent. 

Several factors contributed to this notable disparity. One factor was the inclusion of car-related allowances in the base salaries of SES employees. 

Additionally, SES personnel had the ability to individually negotiate their salaries with their respective agencies, potentially leading to higher increases. 

The report also highlighted an uptick in SES employees transferring between agencies as a contributing factor.

The report noted that between 2021 and 2022, there was a 27 per cent increase in ongoing non-SES engagements and a 13 per cent rise in promotions. 

Typically, newly engaged and promoted employees begin their roles with salaries near the lower end of the pay scale. 

This shift in the distribution of employees across salary scales likely contributed to the comparatively lower median base salary increase for non-SES employees in 2022.

In 2021, 61 per cent of non-SES employees received two wage increases, resulting in a higher increase for that year. 

Across the Australian Public Service (APS) as a whole, there was a 1.8 per cent weighted median base salary increase.

Interestingly, the number of SES employees receiving performance bonuses dropped significantly, decreasing by 69 per cent from 115 in 2021 to just 36 in 2022.

It is worth noting that only 35 per cent of APS employees received the interim 3 per cent wage increase, with most employees experiencing this increase in 2023. 

Regarding superannuation fund membership, the Public Sector Superannuation Accumulation Fund remained the most popular choice, accounting for 50.2 per cent of memberships. 

Following closely was the Public Sector Superannuation Scheme at 27.6 per cent, with "other" funds at 21.6 per cent, and the Commonwealth Superannuation Scheme at 0.6 per cent. 

Interestingly, membership in non-Commonwealth superannuation funds doubled from 10.9 per cent in 2018 to 21.6 per cent in 2022.