Air Traffic Controller Salary Australia: Base Pay, Super, and Tax in 2026
What air traffic controllers earn in Australia. Base salary ranges from $60,000 for trainees to over $240,000 for senior roles, with 12% super and allowances.
Air traffic controller salaries in Australia are set by enterprise agreement, with base pay from $60,000 (trainee) to $226,955 (Level 10), placing most controllers well above the national index of 100 ($108,352).
What does 'air traffic controller salary Australia' mean?
When you search for an air traffic controller salary Australia, you are looking at the pay for professionals who manage aircraft movements in controlled airspace and at aerodromes. The role is safety-critical and highly skilled, and pay reflects that. Most air traffic controllers in Australia work for Airservices Australia, a government-owned corporation. Their salaries are set by an enterprise agreement approved by the Fair Work Commission.
This guide explains the base salary structure, how it compares to the national index, and what you can expect after tax and super. We use the Salary Index to show where these salaries sit against the national line of 100 (full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 per year).
Base salary structure for air traffic controllers
The Airservices Australia (Air Traffic Control and Supporting Air Traffic Services) Enterprise Agreement 2024-2027 sets out a classification and base salary table. There are ten levels plus trainee and specialist roles. Salaries increase automatically after 12 months (4% rise) and again after 24 months (3.4% rise).
Trainee classifications
- Ab Initio Trainee: $60,000 on commencement, $62,280 after 12 months, $64,398 after 24 months.
- Field Trainee: $85,952 on commencement, $89,218 after 12 months, $92,251 after 24 months.
Qualified controller levels (base salary at commencement)
- Level 1: $116,990
- Level 2: $131,317
- Level 3: $145,641
- Level 4: $158,373
- Level 5: $171,107
- Level 6: $186,229
- Level 7: $198,961
- Level 8: $211,696
- Level 9: $218,858
- Level 10: $226,955
Specialist and supervisory roles
- SY TTCU (grandfathered from July 2025): $242,639
- UTS (Unit Training Supervisor): $247,968
- CSS/SS (Control Support Specialist / Senior Specialist): $247,968
- SY CSS/Supervisor (grandfathered): $266,901
These figures are from the ATC Classification Base Salary table published by Airservices Australia.
How these salaries compare to the national index
The Salary Index benchmarks gross ordinary-time earnings. The national line of 100 equals $108,352 per year (ABS Average Weekly Earnings, May 2026).
- A Level 1 controller at $116,990 has an index of about 108 — slightly above the national average.
- A Level 5 controller at $171,107 has an index of about 158.
- A Level 10 controller at $226,955 has an index of about 209 — more than double the national line.
- Even a Field Trainee at $85,952 has an index of 79, rising to 85 after two years.
For context, the national minimum wage (index 48.2) is $52,255. Most air traffic controllers are well above that, even in training.
Allowances and penalty rates
Base salary is only part of the picture. The enterprise agreement provides for several conditional allowances:
- Surveillance Advisory: 5% of salary
- Simultaneous Operations: 9% to 18% of base salary
- Complexity Allowance: $1,792 to $4,007 per year
- Loss of income insurance: $1,194 to $1,347 per year
Penalty rates for night shifts, weekends, and public holidays also apply. The Fair Work Commission decision approving the agreement noted that modelling showed some junior classifications could be worse off under the agreement without allowances, but the overall test was passed with undertakings.
Superannuation and tax
From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% on ordinary earnings, including base salary and allowances. The maximum contribution base is $270,830. For a Level 1 controller on $116,990, super adds about $14,039 per year.
Tax for 2026-27 (resident, excluding Medicare levy):
- Nil on first $18,200
- 15% on income up to $45,000
- 30% on income up to $135,000
- 37% on income up to $190,000
- 45% above $190,000
Plus a 2% Medicare levy. For a Level 1 controller, take-home pay (excluding super) is roughly $90,000 after tax and Medicare. A Level 10 controller takes home around $155,000. These are estimates and ignore HELP repayments, salary sacrifice, or the Medicare levy surcharge.
Where to find more information
For detailed pay guides and award information, see our pay guides page. You can also compare salaries across states and industries. The Salary Index explains how we calculate benchmarks.
Summary
Air traffic controller salaries in Australia are well above the national average for qualified staff. The enterprise agreement provides clear progression from trainee to senior levels. With allowances and super, total remuneration is competitive. The occupation is not covered by a modern award but by a specific enterprise agreement, so pay is consistent across Airservices Australia.
Questions people ask
What is the starting salary for an air traffic controller in Australia?
Starting salaries depend on the training stage. An Ab Initio Trainee begins at $60,000 per year base salary. After 12 months it rises to $62,280, and after 24 months to $64,398. A Field Trainee starts at $85,952, reaching $92,251 after 24 months. These are base rates under the Airservices Australia enterprise agreement, and do not include allowances or penalty rates.
How does an air traffic controller salary compare to the national average?
The national index of 100 represents $108,352 annualised (full-time adult ordinary-time earnings). A Level 1 air traffic controller base salary of $116,990 is about 108 on the index. Senior controllers at Level 10 ($226,955) are around 209. Even trainees start at 55-79 on the index, but progress quickly. Most qualified controllers earn well above the national average.
What allowances and super do air traffic controllers receive?
Under the enterprise agreement, controllers may receive allowances such as Surveillance Advisory (5% of salary), Simultaneous Operations (9-18%), and Complexity ($1,792-$4,007 per year). These are conditional on the work performed. Superannuation is 12% from 1 July 2026, applied to base salary and allowances. Penalty rates for night, weekend, and public holiday work also apply.