How to Estimate Your Pilot Salary After Tax in Australia

Understanding Pilot Salary Under the Air Pilots Award

If you are a pilot in Australia, your minimum pay is set by the Air Pilots Award [MA000046], which covers airline, general aviation, aerial application, and helicopter operations. The award provides hourly rates for Captains and First Officers based on aircraft type and weight. For example, a Captain flying a narrow-body aircraft earns $92.52 per hour, while a First Officer on a single-engine aircraft under 1,360 kg earns $26.45 per hour. Aerial application pilots are paid weekly rates that increase with flying hours, from $978.10 for the first six months to $1,116.80 for over 3,000 hours. These rates are the minimum; many pilots negotiate above-award salaries.

Because pilot salary varies so much, your take-home pay depends on the specific role and aircraft you fly. Fair Work provides a pay guide and a conversion method: for full-time work, divide your annual salary by 52 weeks, then by 38 hours per week to get an hourly rate. For casual pilots, divide the annual salary by 800 flying hours and add a 25% loading. Use that hourly figure to estimate your weekly or fortnightly income.

Calculating Take-Home Pay After Tax and Medicare

Once you know your gross pay, you can estimate what reaches your bank account using the 2026–27 tax rates. The Australian Taxation Office applies these brackets:

• $0 – $18,200: no tax
• $18,201 – $45,000: 15c for each dollar over $18,200
• $45,001 – $135,000: $4,020 plus 30c for each dollar over $45,000
• $135,001 – $190,000: $31,020 plus 37c for each dollar over $135,000
• $190,001 and above: $51,370 plus 45c for each dollar over $190,000

You may also be eligible for the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO), which can reduce tax by up to $700 if your taxable income is below $37,500, phasing out by $66,667.

The Medicare levy is an additional 2% on your taxable income. However, if you earn less than $28,011 as a single person, you pay no Medicare levy. Between $28,011 and $35,013, you pay a reduced rate (10c per dollar over the lower threshold). Full-time pilots earning above $35,013 pay the full 2%.

For example, a First Officer earning $60,000 per year (roughly $30.38 per hour for 38 hours a week) would have:

• Tax: $4,020 + 30% of ($60,000 – $45,000) = $4,020 + $4,500 = $8,520
• LITO: $325 – 1.5c per dollar over $45,000 = $325 – $225 = $100 (so tax reduces to $8,420)
• Medicare: 2% of $60,000 = $1,200 (full levy)
• Total deductions: $9,620
• Take-home: $60,000 – $9,620 = $50,380 per year, or about $1,937 per fortnight.

Use our Take-home pay guide for a more detailed estimate, or the Clearance tool to run your own numbers.

Superannuation and Salary Packaging

Your employer must pay superannuation at 12% of your ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2026) on top of your salary, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. This is not deducted from your take-home pay. If you see a job ad for a pilot salary of $80,000 plus super, your gross pay for tax purposes is $80,000, and your employer contributes an extra $9,600 to your super fund.

Salary packaging (salary sacrifice) can reduce your taxable income by directing pre-tax dollars toward items like a car or additional super. This lowers the tax you pay but also reduces your take-home cash. Check our Salary packaging page for details.

Key Takeaways on Pilot Salary

• Pilot salary is not a single figure; it depends on aircraft type, role, and experience under the Air Pilots Award.
• Use Fair Work’s conversion method to find your hourly or weekly rate.
• Apply the 2026–27 tax brackets and Medicare thresholds to estimate after-tax income.
• Super is paid on top of your salary and does not reduce your take-home pay.
• For a personalised estimate, use our Tax and Medicare calculator or the Clearance tool.