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Policy and Planning Manager salary in Australia
The median full-time salary for a policy and planning manager is $153,100 per annum, before tax, up $32,200 since 2018.
Pay follows the classification and enterprise agreement of the employer, so a federal agency, a state health department and a private insurer can pay quite differently for similar work. Seniority within a band matters more than years served: a larger budget, more staff or direct responsibility for ministerial advice all move you up. Private and not-for-profit employers set their own ranges, which may sit above or below the public service bands.
Roles that pay more than policy and planning manager
The largest typical pay rise is $28,900 a year, moving into Chief Executive Officer.
- Chief Executive Officer+$28,900/yr
How to negotiate a higher policy and planning manager salary
- Know the market rate before you ask. The median full-time policy and planning manager salary is $153,100; 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 Strategy development tend to command a premium over general policy and planning manager experience, name them specifically when you ask.
- Bring a real alternative to the table. Chief Executive Officer pays a typical $28,900 a year more and draws on similar skills, even mentioning you're weighing it up is a legitimate data point in a pay conversation.
- 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."
Policy and Planning Manager salary questions
How much do policy and planning managers earn in Australia?
The median full-time salary for a policy and planning manager is $153,100 a year before tax. Seniority, specialisation, sector and the award or agreement you're employed under all move it.
Is policy and planning manager pay rising or falling?
The median policy and planning manager salary is up $32,200 since 2018. Figures from 2025 onward on this page are a projection, not a measured result.
What pays more than policy and planning manager?
Chief Executive Officer pays a typical $28,900 a year more and draws on similar skills to policy and planning manager.