Air Traffic Controller Salaries and the National Average
Air traffic controllers in Australia are employed under a single enterprise agreement with Airservices Australia, a government-owned corporation. This means their pay is set by a specific award, not by state or industry averages. The national full-time adult ordinary-time average, as measured by the ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey for May 2026, is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year. But an air traffic controller’s salary can sit well above or below that line depending on their classification level and experience.
The Airservices Australia Salary Structure
According to the Airservices Australia classification and base salary table, pay starts at $60,000 for an ab initio trainee and rises through field trainee ($85,952) to Level 1 ($116,990) and beyond. At Level 10, the base salary is $226,955. Specialist roles such as UTS (Unit Training Supervisor) and CSS/SS (Centre Supervisor/Senior Supervisor) attract $247,968, while the senior SY CSS/Supervisor role pays $266,901. These figures are base salaries before allowances, shift penalties, and overtime. The enterprise agreement also includes annual increases: 4% after 12 months and further increments at 24 months.
Because the national full-time average is around $108,352, a Level 1 controller already earns about $8,638 more than the average. Senior controllers earn more than double the national average. However, trainees and field trainees earn less than the national average until they qualify.
How State Averages Compare
The ABS publishes full-time adult ordinary-time earnings by state. For May 2026, the highest state average is the Australian Capital Territory at $119,090, followed by Western Australia at $115,825. The lowest is Tasmania at $96,008. Air traffic controllers are not distributed evenly across states: Jobs and Skills Australia reports that 7.8% of air traffic controllers work in the Northern Territory and 2.6% in the ACT, but the majority are in other states. Because Airservices Australia sets national rates, a controller in Tasmania earns the same base salary as one in NSW, but the cost of living and local allowances may differ. The enterprise agreement may include location-based allowances that adjust for regional differences, but the base salary is uniform.
Why the Award Matters More Than the Industry Average
The ABS Average Weekly Earnings survey covers all full-time adult employees across all industries. Air traffic controllers fall under the Transport, Postal and Warehousing industry, which has its own average weekly ordinary time earnings of about $2,083.70 (the national figure). However, the enterprise agreement for air traffic controllers is negotiated separately and often exceeds the industry average. The median full-time earnings for all employees is about $90,532 per year (ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025), which is lower than the national average because the average is pulled up by high earners. Air traffic controllers at Level 1 and above are above that median.
The Role of the National Minimum Wage and Tax
For context, the national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $52,255 per year on a 38-hour week. Even an ab initio trainee earns above the minimum wage. The tax brackets for 2026–27 mean that a controller earning $116,990 would pay 30% on income between $45,001 and $135,000, plus the 2% Medicare levy. A senior supervisor earning $266,901 would fall into the 37% bracket up to $190,000 and 45% above that.
Where to See How Your Salary Compares
If you are an air traffic controller or considering the career, you can Place a salary on the line to see how your pay compares to the national full-time average. The tool uses a 38-hour week and shows the weekly and hourly equivalent, plus the distance from the ABS average. You can also explore States and territories to see how average earnings vary across Australia.
Conclusion
Air traffic controller salaries in Australia are not determined by state or industry averages but by a specific enterprise agreement with Airservices Australia. This agreement sets base salaries that range from below the national average for trainees to well above it for experienced controllers. The national full-time average of $108,352 serves as a benchmark, but the actual pay for an air traffic controller depends on their classification level, experience, and any location allowances. For the most accurate comparison, refer to the Airservices Australia salary table and the ABS Average Weekly Earnings data.