Qantas Flight Attendant Salary: Gross Pay vs Take-Home in 2026–27

Understanding Your Qantas Flight Attendant Salary

If you are looking at a Qantas flight attendant salary, it is easy to confuse the gross figure with what actually reaches your bank account. The base salary is just one part of your total package. Allowances, overtime, and super can change the picture significantly. This guide breaks down the latest rates from Qantas enterprise agreements and shows you how to estimate your take-home pay.

Base Salaries by Role and Airline

Qantas Group crew work under several different agreements. The most common are:

• Long-haul (international) crew – covered by EBA11. From 16 June 2025, a Flight Attendant earns $70,477 per year. A Customer Service Manager earns $122,822. These rates apply to crew employed by Qantas Airways Limited and QF Cabin Crew Australia.
• Short-haul (domestic) crew – paid weekly rates that increase with service. A Flight Attendant in their first three years earns $53,996 per year, rising to $72,667 by year 10. Customer Service Managers start at $85,990 and reach $102,041 by year 4.
• Qantas Domestic Pty Limited crew – a separate agreement. Flight Attendants earn $55,625 per year, with higher levels up to $61,133.
• Jetstar crew – Cabin Crew Members earn $61,864 per year plus a flying allowance of $21.41 per block hour for domestic flying.

These figures come from the Flight Attendants' Association of Australia and the Fair Work Commission agreements. They are full-time base salaries; part-time crew are paid pro rata.

From Gross Salary to Take-Home Pay

Your gross salary is the number you see in your contract. But tax and the Medicare levy reduce it. For 2026–27, the tax rates are:

• Up to $18,200: nil
• $18,201 to $45,000: 15 cents per dollar over $18,200
• $45,001 to $135,000: $4,020 plus 30 cents per dollar over $45,000
• $135,001 to $190,000: $31,020 plus 37 cents per dollar over $135,000
• Over $190,000: $51,370 plus 45 cents per dollar over $190,000

The Medicare levy is 2% of your taxable income, unless you are on a low income. The single-person thresholds are $28,011 and $35,013. Most full-time flight attendants pay the full 2%.

Using the ATO tax rates, a long-haul Flight Attendant on $70,477 takes home about $2,208 per fortnight. A short-haul Flight Attendant on $53,996 takes home about $1,784 per fortnight. These are estimates only – your actual take-home may differ due to allowances, HELP/HECS, or salary packaging.

Allowances and Super

Base salary is not the whole story. Qantas crew receive various allowances:

• Long-haul: incidentals allowance of $4.08 per flight block hour, plus grooming and uniform allowances.
• Short-haul: miscellaneous expense reimbursement of $370.17 per month, cosmetic and hairdressing allowance of $25.91 per week, shoe and hose allowances, and route pay.
• Jetstar: flying allowance per block hour, which can add significantly to monthly pay.

Superannuation is paid on top of your gross salary at 12% from 1 July 2026. It is not deducted from your take-home. For example, a $70,477 salary attracts $8,457 in super, but that money goes into your super fund, not your bank account.

Common Mix-Ups

• Gross vs take-home: Your contract shows gross. After tax and Medicare, you keep roughly 70–75% of that figure.
• Salary vs package: A package may include super and allowances. Always ask what the base salary is.
• Base vs total earnings: Allowances and overtime can boost your income by thousands each year. Check your enterprise agreement for the full list.

For more on how to calculate your own take-home, see our Take-home pay guide. For details on tax and Medicare, see Tax and Medicare.

Final Thoughts

A Qantas flight attendant salary is competitive, but understanding the difference between gross, package, and take-home is essential for budgeting. Use the figures from your enterprise agreement and the ATO tax tables to get a realistic picture. Remember that super is extra, allowances vary by roster, and your take-home will change if you work part-time or casual.