Pilot salary in Australia: award rates, state differences and industry context

Understanding pilot salary in Australia

When you search for pilot salary in Australia, the first thing to know is that most commercial pilots are covered by the Air Pilots Award 2020, a modern award from the Fair Work Ombudsman. This award sets minimum salaries and hourly rates for pilots and helicopter aircrew across airlines, general aviation, regional airlines, and aerial application operations. Because the Australian Bureau of Statistics does not publish median weekly earnings for aeroplane pilots (Jobs and Skills Australia reports ‘N/A’), the award is the only public benchmark for base pay. Actual earnings can be much higher, especially under enterprise agreements with major airlines.

How the Air Pilots Award structures pay

The award classifies pilots by aircraft type, weight, and role (Captain or First Officer). For example, a Captain flying a multi-engine aircraft between 3360 kg and 5660 kg has a minimum annual salary of $70,496, plus additions for instrument ratings and other requirements, bringing the total to about $80,742 per year. Hourly rates are derived by dividing the annual salary plus additions by 800 (the standard annual flying hours). A casual pilot gets a 25% loading on top.

Here are some key hourly rates from the Fair Work Ombudsman’s pay guide (effective July 2026):

• Captain, single engine under 1360 kg: $29.47/hr
• Captain, multi-engine 3360–5660 kg: $35.68/hr
• Captain, wide-body double deck: $119.93/hr
• First Officer, single engine under 1360 kg: $26.45/hr
• First Officer, multi-engine 3360–5660 kg: $27.88/hr
• Aerial application (0–1000 hours, first 6 months): $25.74/hr

Regional airline rates are separate: a Captain on an Airbus A320 earns $65.65 per hour. These are minimums; many pilots earn above award.

State differences in pilot pay

While the award is national, the states page on Salary Index shows that average earnings across all occupations vary by state. For instance, Western Australia has an index of 106.9 (annualised $115,825) and the ACT 109.9 ($119,090), while Tasmania sits at 88.6 ($96,008). Pilots are more concentrated in Queensland (27.3% of the workforce), New South Wales (24.7%), and Victoria (18.0%), according to Jobs and Skills Australia. In practice, pilots based in resource-rich states like WA may command higher pay due to demand from fly-in fly-out operations. However, no state-specific pilot award exists.

Industry context: where pilots work

The industries index shows that Mining has the highest average earnings index at 154.7, while Transport, Postal and Warehousing (where many pilots work) is not separately listed but likely sits above the all-industries average. The Air Pilots Award covers employees in ‘Transport, Postal and Warehousing’ and ‘Public Administration and Safety’ (e.g., police air wings). Pilots in mining support roles often earn above award rates.

How the Salary Index applies

The Salary Index sets 100 as full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which from May 2026 is $2,083.70 per week ($108,352 annualised). To compare a pilot’s pay against this line, you would take their yearly gross (including award additions) and divide by $108,352, then multiply by 100. For example, the award minimum for a Captain on a multi-engine 3360–5660 kg (about $80,742) gives an index of roughly 74.5. But a senior Captain on a wide-body aircraft earning $119.93/hr for 800 hours would gross about $95,944, index 88.5. Actual airline pilots under enterprise agreements often exceed the national line.

Superannuation and tax considerations

From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830. The Air Pilots Award requires employers to contribute to a complying fund. For tax, a resident pilot earning $100,000 would pay about $24,967 in income tax plus 2% Medicare levy (assuming tax-free threshold), leaving roughly $73,033 take-home. Higher earners face the 37% marginal rate above $135,000 and 45% above $190,000.

Why median earnings are missing

Jobs and Skills Australia notes that median weekly earnings for aeroplane pilots are not available because the sample size is too small or the data is unreliable. This means any discussion of pilot salary in Australia must rely on award rates and industry knowledge. Enterprise agreements at Qantas, Virgin, and regional carriers are not public in the same way, but they typically pay well above the award.

Bottom line

A pilot salary in Australia starts at award minimums as low as $25.74 per hour for entry-level aerial application work and rises to over $119 per hour for wide-body captains. State and industry differences matter: pilots in Western Australia or the ACT may benefit from higher overall wage levels, while those in mining or airline transport often earn above the national average. For a personalised estimate, use the pay guides and how the index works to compare against the national line. The Salary Index is a useful tool for understanding where any pay figure sits relative to the broader workforce.