Qantas flight attendant salary: what the EBA11 pays in 2025–26

What does “qantas flight attendant salary” mean in 2025–26?

When you search for a qantas flight attendant salary, you are usually looking at the pay rates set by the enterprise agreement that covers most mainline cabin crew. That agreement is the Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia, Qantas Airways Limited and QF Cabin Crew Australia Pty Limited Enterprise Agreement 2022 – known as EBA11. It sets minimum annual salaries and hourly rates for classifications from trainee flight attendant up to customer service manager.

These rates are not the same as the award minimum. The EBA11 rates include shift loadings, public holiday penalties, annual leave loading and some allowances, so the annual figure you see is a packaged figure, not a base rate. That is important when you read a job ad that says “$70,000 plus penalties” – the EBA already has those built in.

Current pay scales from the EBA11 variation

The FAAA published a detailed guide that shows the new salary table effective from 18 June 2025:

• Trainee Flight Attendant: $64,798 per year ($41.54 per hour)
• Flight Attendant Entry: $69,068.17 ($44.27)
• Flight Attendant: $70,477.46 ($45.18)
• Customer Service Supervisor: $98,165.96 ($62.93)
• Customer Service Manager: $122,821.82 ($78.73)

These rates apply to Qantas mainline domestic and international crew. The agreement also introduced triple-time pay for ultra-long-range flights exceeding 20 hours.

Where these figures sit on the Salary Index

The Salary Index benchmarks a gross yearly salary against the national full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352 (index 100). A Qantas flight attendant on $70,477 has an index of about 65. That is above the national minimum wage index of 48.2 ($52,255) but below the retail trade industry index of 75.9 and well below the national median. A customer service manager at $122,821 has an index of about 113 – above the national line.

When you compare job offers, the index helps you see if the pay is above or below the typical full-time worker. For example, a flight attendant role at $70,477 is about 65% of the national benchmark, while a similar role in professional services might be 115%.

How the EBA compares to the award

A Senate estimates hearing in 2022 revealed a large gap between the then enterprise agreement base rate and the award minimum. The EBA for Group 1 flight attendants had a base rate of $73,700, while the Aircraft Cabin Crew Award 2020 minimum was $45,864 – a difference of $27,836. The department noted that the EBA rate included loadings, so a direct comparison was not straightforward.

Since then, the EBA11 has increased rates. The current Flight Attendant rate of $70,477 is lower than the old Group 1 base, but the new rates are inclusive of the same loadings. The award minimum has also risen with annual wage reviews (the national minimum wage increased 4.75% from 1 July 2026). Still, the Qantas EBA pays well above the award floor.

Reading a job ad: what to look for

A typical job ad for a Qantas flight attendant will quote the annual salary from the EBA. It might say “$70,477 per year inclusive of allowances”. That means your take-home will vary depending on your roster, but the figure is a guaranteed minimum for a full-time employee. The ad may also mention the hourly rate ($45.18) and overtime penalties (time and a half, double time, and triple time for ultra-long-range).

When you compare offers, remember that the EBA11 expires on 29 March 2026. Future negotiations could change the rates. Also, the salary index is based on ordinary-time earnings, so the Qantas figure that includes loadings is not a pure ordinary-time wage – but it is the number you will see in the contract.

Super and tax considerations

Superannuation guarantee is 12% from 1 July 2026, so on a $70,477 salary your employer must contribute at least $8,457 to super. The maximum super contribution base is $270,830, so that does not affect most cabin crew. For tax, a resident earning $70,477 in 2026–27 falls in the 30% bracket (after the tax-free threshold). The estimated take-home after tax and 2% Medicare levy is roughly $54,000, but this ignores HELP repayments or salary sacrifice.

State and industry context

Qantas is based in New South Wales, where the state index is 101.2 ($109,658 annualised). A flight attendant on $70,477 is below the NSW average. The aviation industry is not separately listed in the index, but it sits between accommodation and food services (index 72.5) and education and training (105.5). The Qantas rate is typical for a union-negotiated role in a highly regulated industry.

For more on how the index works, see how the index works. You can also browse pay guides for other industries or compare states. If you are looking at other airline roles, check our industries page.

Key takeaways

• The qantas flight attendant salary under EBA11 is $70,477 for a standard flight attendant, with higher rates for supervisors and managers.
• The salary index of 65 shows it is below the national full-time average but above the minimum wage.
• The EBA rate includes loadings, so it is not a base rate like the award.
• Always check the expiry date of the enterprise agreement when reading a job ad.
• Use the index to compare offers across different employers and industries.