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Qantas Pilots Salary 2026: How It Compares to the National Average

A precise Qantas pilot salary for 2026 is not published in the available sources, but the Air Pilots Award 2020 sets minimum hourly rates ranging from $26.45 for a first officer on small single-engine aircraft to $119.93 for a captain on a double-deck wide-body aircraft.

This sits on the Australian full-time average.

Week, hour, and a tax sketch

$2,084 a week · $54.83 an hour if spread over 38 hours

About $83,159 after resident income tax and a 2% Medicare levy.

2026–27 resident rates and a 2% Medicare levy. Not a tax assessment.Open the full line

Qantas Pilots Salary 2026: Where Does It Sit Against the National Average?

If you are searching for a specific "Qantas pilots salary 2026" figure, the available public sources do not publish a single number. Qantas pilots are employed under enterprise agreements that are not part of the Fair Work award system, and the airline does not disclose a standard salary in the data we have. However, we can use the Air Pilots Award 2020 (MA000046) and the ABS Average Weekly Earnings to understand the pay landscape and how it compares to the national full-time average.

The National Full-Time Average as a Reference

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) publishes Average Weekly Earnings twice a year. The latest release, for May 2026, shows that full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings are $2,083.70 per week. Multiplied by 52, that is about $108,352 per year. This is the line that Average line uses as its benchmark. For context, the full-time median (from ABS Employee Earnings, August 2025) is about $90,532, and the all-employees median is about $74,100. The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week on a 38-hour week (about $52,255 per year).

Air Pilots Award 2020 Minimum Rates

The Fair Work Ombudsman’s Air Pilots Award 2020 sets minimum hourly rates for pilots based on aircraft type and role. These are the legal floor, not what Qantas necessarily pays. For a captain on a single-engine aircraft under 1,360 kg, the minimum is $29.47 per hour. For a captain on a wide-body double-deck aircraft (like an Airbus A380), the minimum is $119.93 per hour. For a first officer on a narrow-body aircraft (e.g., Boeing 737), the minimum is $65.65 per hour. These rates apply to full-time and part-time employees. The award also includes additional daily allowances for working on a rostered duty-free day ($138.85 per day).

Even at the lower award rates, a captain on a narrow-body aircraft ($92.52 per hour) working a standard 38-hour week would earn about $182,000 per year, well above the national average. However, pilots often work irregular rosters and may not consistently achieve 38 hours of flying time per week. The award also includes classifications for aerial application operations, with weekly rates from $978.10 to $1,116.80.

How Qantas Pilot Pay Likely Compares

Qantas is a major airline with a strong enterprise bargaining history. Pilot salaries at Qantas are generally significantly higher than the award minimums. For example, a Qantas captain on a Boeing 787 or A330 might earn a base salary in the range of $250,000 to $350,000 per year, plus allowances and superannuation. A first officer might earn between $120,000 and $200,000. These figures are not confirmed by the sources we have, but they are consistent with industry commentary. The key point is that even the award minimum for a wide-body captain ($119.93 per hour) translates to about $237,000 per year on a 38-hour week, which is more than double the national average.

Take-Home Pay Sketch

Using the 2026–27 tax rates (resident):

  • Nil tax on the first $18,200
  • 15% on income from $18,201 to $45,000
  • 30% on income from $45,001 to $135,000
  • 37% on income from $135,001 to $190,000
  • 45% on income above $190,000 Plus a 2% Medicare levy.

For a pilot earning the national average of $108,352, the estimated tax plus Medicare is about $26,850, leaving a take-home of roughly $81,500. For a pilot earning $200,000, the tax and Medicare would be about $66,000, leaving $134,000. For a pilot earning $300,000, the tax and Medicare would be about $111,000, leaving $189,000. These are rough estimates and do not include the tax-free threshold, deductions, or the low-income tax offset.

State Comparisons

The ABS also provides state-level full-time averages. For example, the average in New South Wales is about $109,658, in Victoria $106,137, in Queensland $106,064, in Western Australia $115,825, and in the Australian Capital Territory $119,090. A Qantas pilot based in Sydney or Brisbane would likely earn well above these state averages.

Where to Find More

For a deeper dive into how salaries compare across industries and states, see our pages on Industry medians and States and territories. You can also Place a salary on the line to see how any figure compares to the national average.

The Bottom Line

While a precise "Qantas pilots salary 2026" is not available in the public sources we rely on, the Air Pilots Award 2020 provides a clear minimum. Even at the award rate for a captain on a mid-sized aircraft, the pay exceeds the national full-time average. Actual Qantas pilot salaries are likely much higher, reflecting the skill, responsibility, and irregular hours of the role. For a resident pilot, the take-home pay after tax can be substantial, especially when compared to the national median.

For more on how the figures are set, see How the figures are set. For guides on understanding pay, see Guides.

Questions

What is the average salary for a Qantas pilot in 2026?

The available sources do not provide a specific Qantas pilot salary for 2026. Qantas pilots are covered by enterprise agreements that typically pay above the minimum rates in the Air Pilots Award 2020. The award minimums range from about $26.45 per hour for a first officer on a small aircraft to $119.93 per hour for a captain on a wide-body double-deck aircraft. Actual Qantas salaries are negotiated separately and are not published in the Fair Work award or ABS data.

How does the Air Pilots Award minimum compare to the national full-time average?

The national full-time adult average weekly ordinary time earnings is $2,083.70 per week, or about $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026). For a captain on a narrow-body aircraft, the award minimum hourly rate is $92.52. Assuming a 38-hour week and 52 weeks, that works out to about $182,000 per year, which is well above the national average. However, many pilots work irregular hours and may not consistently work 38 hours per week. The award also includes additional payments for working on rostered duty-free days.

What is the take-home pay for a pilot earning the national average?

If a pilot earns exactly the national full-time average of $108,352 per year, their take-home pay after tax and Medicare levy (2026–27 rates) would be approximately $81,500. This calculation uses the tax brackets: nil up to $18,200, 15% to $45,000, 30% to $135,000, plus 2% Medicare levy. Actual take-home pay depends on individual circumstances, deductions, and whether the pilot is paid under an enterprise agreement that may include allowances or penalty rates.

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