What is the Qantas pilot salary? Award rates, take-home pay, and how it compares to the national minimum
Qantas pilot salaries vary by aircraft, experience, and enterprise agreements, with award minimums ranging from $26.45 to $119.93 per hour, but actual pay is typically above award.
What is the Qantas pilot salary?
If you are looking at a career as a pilot with Qantas, you will want to know what you can expect to earn. The short answer is that a Qantas pilot salary varies widely depending on the aircraft you fly, your experience level, and the specific enterprise agreement that applies. There is no single figure, but we can look at the minimum award rates and compare them to the national benchmarks.
Award minimums for pilots
Fair Work's Air Pilots Award [MA000046] sets minimum hourly rates for pilots across different aircraft categories. For example, a captain on a wide-body double-deck aircraft has a minimum hourly rate of $119.93, while a first officer on a small single-engine aircraft starts at $26.45 per hour. These are the legal minimums; Qantas enterprise agreements typically pay above these rates.
How does a Qantas pilot salary compare to the national minimum?
The national minimum wage is $26.44 per hour and $1,004.90 per week (from 1 July 2026). Even the lowest award rate for a first officer on a small aircraft is slightly above that. For a captain on a wide-body aircraft, the hourly rate is more than four times the minimum wage. The full-time adult ordinary time earnings (ABS average) are $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. A Qantas pilot on a wide-body aircraft would earn well above that average.
Take-home pay after tax and Medicare
Your take-home pay is what lands in your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026–27 tax year, resident tax rates apply. The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income, but if you earn below $28,011 (single) you pay nothing; between $28,011 and $35,013 you pay a reduced rate. Most full-time pilots will pay the full 2%. Superannuation at 12% (from 1 July 2026) is paid on top of your salary, so it does not reduce your take-home pay.
Using the take-home pay calculator
To estimate your own take-home pay, use our Take-home pay tool. You can enter your salary and see the after-tax amount including Medicare. Remember that this is an estimate only and does not include HELP/HECS repayments or the Medicare levy surcharge.
Salary packaging and super
Qantas pilots may have access to salary packaging arrangements, such as for cars or other benefits. This can affect your taxable income and take-home pay. Super contributions are mandatory at 12% from 1 July 2026, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. See our Salary packaging and Super guides for more details.
How the Qantas pilot salary compares to other roles
The national average full-time ordinary time earnings are $108,352 per year. A Qantas captain on a wide-body aircraft would earn significantly more than that, while a first officer on a regional aircraft might earn closer to the average. The key is that the Qantas pilot salary is generally above the national average, reflecting the skill and responsibility required.
Tax and Medicare considerations
Pilots often have work-related expenses they can claim, such as uniforms, licensing, and travel. The Australian Taxation Office provides a guide for pilots on what you can deduct. See our Tax and Medicare page for more information on how the Medicare levy works and how to claim deductions.
Final thoughts
A Qantas pilot salary is not a fixed number. It depends on your role, aircraft, and experience. The award rates provide a floor, but Qantas enterprise agreements typically offer higher pay. Use the benchmarks and tools on this site to understand where your potential salary sits relative to the national minimum and full-time ordinary time earnings.
Questions
What is the typical Qantas pilot salary?
There is no single figure. Qantas pilots are covered by enterprise agreements that set pay above the Air Pilots Award minimums. Award rates for a captain on a wide-body double-deck aircraft start at $119.93 per hour, while a first officer on a small single-engine aircraft starts at $26.45 per hour. Actual Qantas salaries depend on the aircraft type, years of service, and role.
How is a Qantas pilot's take-home pay calculated?
Take-home pay is what reaches your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026–27 tax year, resident tax rates apply: nil up to $18,200, then 15c per dollar to $45,000, then 30c to $135,000, and so on. The Medicare levy is 2% of taxable income, but if your income is below $28,011 (single) you pay nothing; between $28,011 and $35,013 you pay a reduced rate. Superannuation at 12% (from 1 July 2026) is paid on top of your salary, not deducted from take-home.
What work-related deductions can Qantas pilots claim?
The Australian Taxation Office allows pilots to claim deductions for expenses directly related to earning income, such as uniform costs, licensing fees, medicals, and travel away from home. You need to keep records. See the ATO's pilot guide for a full list.