NSW council pay rates under the Local Government (State) Award 2026: weekly and annual pay for Grades 1 to 24 at every step from 1 July 2026, the band and level each grade covers, take-home pay in 2026–27, and the 3.5% rise from 1 July 2027.
From 1 July 2026, NSW council staff on the award earn $1,306.91 to $4,787.48 a week ($67,959 to $248,949 a year), up 4%. Pay rises another 3.5% from 1 July 2027.
Annual pay by grade and step
Full-time weekly rate × 52, from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026.
| Grade | Step 1 (entry) | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | $67,959 | $69,184 | $70,442 | $71,728 |
| Grade 2 | $69,704 | $70,970 | $72,269 | $73,608 |
| Grade 3 | $71,429 | $72,737 | $74,096 | $75,523 |
| Grade 4 | $73,160 | $74,548 | $75,975 | $77,485 |
| Grade 5 | $75,192 | $76,654 | $78,194 | $79,803 |
| Grade 6 | $77,275 | $78,834 | $80,478 | $82,188 |
| Grade 7 | $79,404 | $81,062 | $82,800 | $84,627 |
| Grade 8 | $82,129 | $83,922 | $85,799 | $87,736 |
| Grade 9 | $84,958 | $86,871 | $88,818 | $90,829 |
| Grade 10 | $87,834 | $89,819 | $91,842 | $93,924 |
| Grade 11 | $92,633 | $94,730 | $96,884 | $99,090 |
| Grade 12 | $97,434 | $99,650 | $101,930 | $104,256 |
| Grade 13 | $102,235 | $104,574 | $106,974 | $109,435 |
| Grade 14 | $107,034 | $109,497 | $112,018 | $114,602 |
| Grade 15 | $111,838 | $114,420 | $117,065 | $119,770 |
| Grade 16 | $116,626 | $119,329 | $122,094 | $124,934 |
| Grade 17 | $123,826 | $126,702 | $129,662 | $132,685 |
| Grade 18 | $131,027 | $134,085 | $137,228 | $140,435 |
| Grade 19 | $138,240 | $141,481 | $144,797 | $148,205 |
| Grade 20 | $145,429 | $148,852 | $152,349 | $155,945 |
| Grade 21 | $152,630 | $156,225 | $159,916 | $163,707 |
| Grade 22 | $159,831 | $163,607 | $167,484 | $171,456 |
| Grade 23 | $195,826 | $200,503 | $205,304 | $210,217 |
| Grade 24 | $231,796 | $237,375 | $243,089 | $248,949 |
Weekly pay by grade and step
Show weekly rates for all 24 grades
| Grade | Step 1 (entry) | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | $1,306.91 | $1,330.46 | $1,354.65 | $1,379.39 |
| Grade 2 | $1,340.47 | $1,364.81 | $1,389.78 | $1,415.53 |
| Grade 3 | $1,373.63 | $1,398.78 | $1,424.92 | $1,452.36 |
| Grade 4 | $1,406.92 | $1,433.62 | $1,461.05 | $1,490.10 |
| Grade 5 | $1,446.00 | $1,474.12 | $1,503.74 | $1,534.68 |
| Grade 6 | $1,486.05 | $1,516.03 | $1,547.66 | $1,580.54 |
| Grade 7 | $1,527.00 | $1,558.88 | $1,592.31 | $1,627.45 |
| Grade 8 | $1,579.40 | $1,613.89 | $1,649.98 | $1,687.23 |
| Grade 9 | $1,633.80 | $1,670.60 | $1,708.03 | $1,746.71 |
| Grade 10 | $1,689.12 | $1,727.28 | $1,766.19 | $1,806.24 |
| Grade 11 | $1,781.40 | $1,821.74 | $1,863.15 | $1,905.58 |
| Grade 12 | $1,873.73 | $1,916.35 | $1,960.20 | $2,004.93 |
| Grade 13 | $1,966.06 | $2,011.03 | $2,057.19 | $2,104.52 |
| Grade 14 | $2,058.35 | $2,105.72 | $2,154.20 | $2,203.88 |
| Grade 15 | $2,150.73 | $2,200.39 | $2,251.25 | $2,303.26 |
| Grade 16 | $2,242.80 | $2,294.79 | $2,347.97 | $2,402.57 |
| Grade 17 | $2,381.26 | $2,436.58 | $2,493.50 | $2,551.64 |
| Grade 18 | $2,519.75 | $2,578.56 | $2,639.00 | $2,700.67 |
| Grade 19 | $2,658.46 | $2,720.79 | $2,784.56 | $2,850.10 |
| Grade 20 | $2,796.72 | $2,862.54 | $2,929.79 | $2,998.94 |
| Grade 21 | $2,935.20 | $3,004.32 | $3,075.31 | $3,148.22 |
| Grade 22 | $3,073.68 | $3,146.28 | $3,220.84 | $3,297.23 |
| Grade 23 | $3,765.88 | $3,855.83 | $3,948.16 | $4,042.64 |
| Grade 24 | $4,457.61 | $4,564.90 | $4,674.78 | $4,787.48 |
Which grade? Bands and levels
The award describes jobs by band and level. Each council places every position on a grade within the range for its band and level.
| Band and level | Grades |
|---|---|
| Operational Band 1, Level 2 | Grades 1 to 4 |
| Operational Band 1, Level 3 | Grades 5 to 7 |
| Operational Band 1, Level 4 | Grades 8 to 10 |
| Administrative / Technical / Trades Band 2, Level 1 | Grades 8 to 10 |
| Administrative / Technical / Trades Band 2, Level 2 | Grades 11 to 13 |
| Administrative / Technical / Trades Band 2, Level 3 | Grades 14 to 16 |
| Professional / Specialist Band 3, Level 1 | Grades 11 to 13 |
| Professional / Specialist Band 3, Level 2 | Grades 14 to 16 |
| Professional / Specialist Band 3, Level 3 | Grades 17 to 19 |
| Professional / Specialist Band 3, Level 4 | Grades 20 to 21 |
| Executive Band 4 | Grades 22 to 24 |
Operational Band 1, Level 1 covers juniors and trainees, who are paid the trainee rates in the award.
Take-home pay
| Grade | Entry step a year | Take-home a fortnight | Step 4 a year | Take-home a fortnight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | $67,959 | $2,142 | $71,728 | $2,241 |
| Grade 5 | $75,192 | $2,331 | $79,803 | $2,452 |
| Grade 8 | $82,129 | $2,513 | $87,736 | $2,659 |
| Grade 11 | $92,633 | $2,787 | $99,090 | $2,956 |
| Grade 14 | $107,034 | $3,164 | $114,602 | $3,362 |
| Grade 17 | $123,826 | $3,603 | $132,685 | $3,835 |
| Grade 20 | $145,429 | $4,140 | $155,945 | $4,387 |
| Grade 22 | $159,831 | $4,478 | $171,456 | $4,751 |
| Grade 24 | $231,796 | $6,038 | $248,949 | $6,387 |
After income tax and the Medicare levy for a full year in 2026–27, without HELP repayments. Super is paid on top.
Weekly pay from 1 July 2027 (3.5% rise)
Show weekly rates from 1 July 2027
| Grade | Step 1 (entry) | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 1 | $1,352.65 | $1,377.03 | $1,402.06 | $1,427.67 |
| Grade 2 | $1,387.38 | $1,412.58 | $1,438.43 | $1,465.08 |
| Grade 3 | $1,421.71 | $1,447.74 | $1,474.80 | $1,503.19 |
| Grade 4 | $1,456.16 | $1,483.80 | $1,512.19 | $1,542.26 |
| Grade 5 | $1,496.61 | $1,525.71 | $1,556.37 | $1,588.39 |
| Grade 6 | $1,538.06 | $1,569.09 | $1,601.82 | $1,635.86 |
| Grade 7 | $1,580.45 | $1,613.44 | $1,648.04 | $1,684.42 |
| Grade 8 | $1,634.67 | $1,670.38 | $1,707.73 | $1,746.29 |
| Grade 9 | $1,690.98 | $1,729.08 | $1,767.81 | $1,807.85 |
| Grade 10 | $1,748.24 | $1,787.74 | $1,828.01 | $1,869.46 |
| Grade 11 | $1,843.74 | $1,885.50 | $1,928.36 | $1,972.28 |
| Grade 12 | $1,939.31 | $1,983.42 | $2,028.81 | $2,075.11 |
| Grade 13 | $2,034.87 | $2,081.41 | $2,129.19 | $2,178.18 |
| Grade 14 | $2,130.39 | $2,179.42 | $2,229.60 | $2,281.02 |
| Grade 15 | $2,226.01 | $2,277.40 | $2,330.04 | $2,383.87 |
| Grade 16 | $2,321.30 | $2,375.11 | $2,430.15 | $2,486.66 |
| Grade 17 | $2,464.60 | $2,521.87 | $2,580.78 | $2,640.95 |
| Grade 18 | $2,607.94 | $2,668.80 | $2,731.37 | $2,795.20 |
| Grade 19 | $2,751.50 | $2,816.01 | $2,882.02 | $2,949.85 |
| Grade 20 | $2,894.60 | $2,962.73 | $3,032.34 | $3,103.91 |
| Grade 21 | $3,037.93 | $3,109.47 | $3,182.95 | $3,258.40 |
| Grade 22 | $3,181.26 | $3,256.40 | $3,333.57 | $3,412.63 |
| Grade 23 | $3,897.69 | $3,990.79 | $4,086.35 | $4,184.13 |
| Grade 24 | $4,613.62 | $4,724.67 | $4,838.40 | $4,955.05 |
How it works
- The Local Government (State) Award 2026 covers employees of NSW councils (except senior staff on contracts). It was made by the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW on 16 June 2026 and took effect on 1 July 2026.
- Rates are the minimum weekly rates in Schedule 1. Your council's salary system may pay above the minimum for your grade.
- Allowances, overtime and penalty rates are extra. Part-time staff are paid pro rata.
See also public service pay, the salary after tax tables and the salary sacrifice calculator.
Common questions
What are the NSW Local Government Award pay rates for 2026?
From the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2026, weekly rates run from $1,306.91 (Grade 1, entry step) to $4,787.48 (Grade 24, step 4), after a 4% increase. That's $67,959 to $248,949 a year.
How much does a council worker earn in NSW?
An outdoor or operational worker (Band 1, Grades 1 to 10) earns $67,959 to $93,924 a year. Administrative, technical and trades staff (Band 2, Grades 8 to 16) earn $82,129 to $124,934.
What grade is a council engineer or planner?
Professional and specialist roles are Band 3, Grades 11 to 21: $92,633 to $163,707 a year. Each council decides the grade of each position in its own salary system.
When is the next pay rise?
3.5% from the first full pay period on or after 1 July 2027. The table below shows the new rates.
How do steps work?
Each grade has four steps. Councils set how staff move between steps in their salary system, usually by gaining and using extra skills or by performance.
Source: Local Government (State) Award 2026, Schedule 1 Table 1, award reprint in the NSW Industrial Gazette Vol. 399 Part 7, 24 July 2026 (award reprint C10180). Checked 2026-10-23. General information only.