Your Qantas cabin crew salary: what clears after tax in 2026–27
Qantas cabin crew salaries vary by airline, role, and experience, ranging from about $54,000 to over $122,000 per year before tax, plus allowances.
Understanding your Qantas cabin crew salary
If you are a cabin crew member working for Qantas or one of its group airlines, your pay is set by an enterprise agreement, not the award minimum. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the Aircraft Cabin Crew Award 2020, which sets a minimum weekly rate of $1,097.40 ($28.88 per hour) for a cabin crew member. But Qantas pays more under agreements approved by the Fair Work Commission.
Your qantas cabin crew salary depends on which airline employs you (Qantas mainline, Qantas Domestic, Jetstar, QantasLink) and your role (Flight Attendant, Customer Service Supervisor, Customer Service Manager). The latest rates are available from the Flight Attendants' Association of Australia and detailed take-home estimates are provided by .
How take-home pay is calculated
Your take-home pay is what reaches your bank account after income tax and the Medicare levy. For the 2026–27 tax year, the Australian Tax Office applies these resident tax rates:
- Nil on the first $18,200
- 15¢ per $1 over $18,200 up to $45,000
- $4,020 plus 30¢ per $1 over $45,000 up to $135,000
- $31,020 plus 37¢ per $1 over $135,000 up to $190,000
- $51,370 plus 45¢ per $1 over $190,000
You also get the Low Income Tax Offset (LITO): up to $700 if your taxable income is $37,500 or less, then it phases out. The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income, but if you earn below $28,011 (single) you pay nothing, and between $28,011 and $35,013 you pay a reduced rate (10¢ per $1 over the lower threshold). Full-time crew earning above $35,013 pay the full 2%.
For a detailed walkthrough, see our Take-home pay guide and the Tax and Medicare page. Remember, superannuation (12% from 1 July 2026) is paid on top of your salary and is not deducted from your take-home pay.
Qantas cabin crew salary by role
Here are the base annual salaries from the current enterprise agreements (before allowances and overtime):
Qantas long haul (international) – EBA11
- Trainee Flight Attendant: $64,798
- Flight Attendant (entry, first 12 months): $69,068
- Flight Attendant (after 12 months): $70,477
- Customer Service Supervisor: $98,166
- Customer Service Manager: $122,822
Qantas short haul (domestic) – EBA10
- Flight Attendant (years 1–3): $53,996
- Flight Attendant (year 10): $72,667
- Customer Service Manager (year 1): $85,990
- Customer Service Manager (year 4): $102,041
Qantas Domestic Pty Ltd
- Flight Attendant: $55,625
- Customer Service Manager: $86,525
Jetstar
- Cabin Crew Member: $61,864
- Cabin Manager: $77,818
QantasLink
- Level 1: $57,101 up to Level 4: $61,133
These figures are from the guide, which also shows weekly and fortnightly take-home amounts after tax.
Allowances and additional pay
Your actual pay will be higher than the base salary because of flying allowances. For Qantas domestic crew, the flying allowance is $21.41 per block hour from 1 July 2026. International crew receive different rates depending on whether the tour includes a layover. These allowances are paid on top of your base salary and are taxable.
Other additions include duty hour penalties for early, late, weekend and public holiday work, and incentive pay for hours above 120 in a roster period. Casual crew are paid an hourly rate that includes a casual loading.
Estimating your take-home pay
To estimate what you will actually receive each fortnight, start with your base annual salary, add expected allowances, then apply the tax rates and Medicare levy. For example, a Qantas long haul Flight Attendant earning $70,477 per year would have a taxable income of about $70,477 (plus allowances). After tax and Medicare, the take-home pay is roughly $2,208 per fortnight, as shown in the table. That figure assumes no other deductions.
If you salary package or have HELP/HECS repayments, your take-home will be lower. Use our Clearance tool for a personalised estimate.
Key points to remember
- The award minimum is a floor; Qantas group airlines pay more under enterprise agreements.
- Your base salary is just the starting point – allowances and overtime can significantly increase your pay.
- Tax and Medicare are calculated on your total taxable income, including allowances.
- Super is paid on top of your salary and does not reduce your take-home pay.
- The Medicare levy thresholds for singles are $28,011 and $35,013. Full-time crew will generally pay the full 2%.
For more context, see our Benchmarks page comparing average earnings, and the Minimum wage page for the national minimum.
Questions
What is the base salary for a Qantas long haul flight attendant?
Under the current enterprise agreement (EBA11), a Qantas long haul Flight Attendant earns $70,477 per year from 16 June 2025. A Customer Service Manager earns $122,822. These are base salaries before flying allowances and overtime.
How does the flying allowance affect take-home pay?
The flying allowance is paid per block hour. For Qantas domestic crew it is $21.41 per hour from 1 July 2026. At about 90 block hours a month, that adds roughly $1,927 a month before tax. Take-home pay depends on your total taxable income including allowances.
What is the difference between the award minimum and what Qantas pays?
The Aircraft Cabin Crew Award sets a minimum of $28.88 per hour ($1,097.40 per week) for a cabin crew member. Qantas pays significantly more under its enterprise agreements. For example, a short haul flight attendant in year 1 earns $53,996 per year, well above the award.