Number of public servants earning $120K+ a year skyrockets

The number of Queensland public servants now raking in $120,000-plus each year has dramatically jumped after many workers were pushed into higher wage bands last year.

The number of Queensland public servants earning at least $120,000 per year has jumped by 18 per cent in just 12 months after many workers were pushed into higher wage bands.

The latest public sector figures have revealed public servants earning $120,000 a year or more now make up about 16 per cent of Queensland’s public service, well above the average national salary of about $90,000.

As of September 2021, there were about 38,006 full time equivalent (FTE) employees earning at least $120,000 per year – up 18.3 per cent from 32,107 the same time the year prior and placing them in the top 20 per cent of wage earners in the state.

It comes after wage increases pushed many teachers, police and other public servants into higher wage bands during a time of historically slow wages growth.

When broken down further, there were 30,572 FTEs earning between $120,000 and $149,999 as of September 2021, which was up an extra 5,130 FTEs from September 2020.

The Queensland Government’s Executive Building 1 William St - home to many public servants - towers over Parliament House.

The number of workers earning between $150,000 and $179,999 increased from 3108 FTEs to 3633 FTEs over the same period, and those earning $180,000 or more jumped from 3557 FTEs to 3800 FTEs.

The Public Service Commission said earnings had been affected by the lifting of the 12 month wage deferral – which was introduced by the Palaszczuk government amid the Covid pandemic.

They also said earnings had been impacted by the finalisation of the state wages cases, which led to wage increases of 2.5 per cent for employees across all awards.

“This has resulted in movement across all remuneration ranges but has particularly impacted the $120,000 - $149,999 remuneration band, overwhelmingly due to wage increases pushing many teachers, police and AO7 public service employees into this band,” the Commission said in a statement.

About 42.57 per cent of workers earning between $120,000 and $149,999 per year come from the health sector, and 24 per cent come from the education sector.

Health sector workers also make up 62.1 per cent of the workers earning between $150,000 and $179,999 per year, as well as 74.88 per cent of those earning upwards of $180,000.