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Member of Parliament salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a member of parliament is $234,000 per annum, before tax, up $49,900 since 2018.
DerivedIndicative estimate, not yet verified against official Jobs and Skills Australia / ABS data · Estimate
- Pay is set by an independent remuneration tribunal rather than by an employer, so it changes when the tribunal hands down a determination.
- Extra salary attaches to roles such as minister, shadow minister, whip or committee chair, and allowances cover travel, electorate offices and staffing.
- There is no overtime or penalty rate, so a heavy sitting week and a quiet one pay the same.
The median salary rose by $49,900 between 2018 and 2024; the dashed line shows a projection to 2028 based on the real ABS Wage Price Index growth rate, not a role-specific forecast.
How to negotiate a higher member of parliament salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time member of parliament salary is $234,000; use that, not a guess, as your anchor, and adjust for your experience and employer.
- Lead with what's scarce, not just tenure. Skills like Policy analysis and advice and Community engagement tend to command a premium over general member of parliament experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Time it deliberately. Reviews, the end of a project you delivered, or taking on responsibility beyond your job description are stronger moments to ask than an arbitrary date on the calendar.
- Ask for a number, not a raise. "Based on the market rate and [specific contribution], I'd like to move to X" gets a clearer answer than "I think I deserve more."
Member of Parliament salary questions
How much do member of parliaments earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a member of parliament is $234,000 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is member of parliament pay rising or falling?
The median member of parliament salary is up $49,900 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
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Pay advice
- How to ask for a pay rise, and back it up with real numbersWhat national wage growth looks like right now, how to work out a figure for your own role, wording you can adapt for the conversation, and what to do if the answer is no.
- The average salary in Australia (2026)Full-time adults in Australia averaged $2,083.70 a week in May 2026. Several measures get called the average salary, and this explains which one fits your situation.
- Overtime pay, time in lieu and what your award saysOvertime rates come from your award or agreement, not one national rule. How rates work, what happens on a salary, and how time off in lieu works.