Qantas cabin crew salary: award minimums and what to expect in 2026

Understanding the Qantas cabin crew salary

When you search for "qantas cabin crew salary", you will find a wide range of figures. This is because the pay depends on several factors: the legal minimum under the award, any enterprise agreement that overrides it, and additional allowances for flying time and training. This guide breaks down each layer so you can see which pay floor applies and how a typical Qantas cabin crew salary compares.

The legal minimum: Aircraft Cabin Crew Award 2020

All cabin crew in Australia are covered by the Aircraft Cabin Crew Award 2020, unless their employer has a registered enterprise agreement. The Fair Work Ombudsman publishes the award, which sets minimum wages, allowances, and conditions. As of 1 July 2026, the minimum weekly rate for a full-time cabin crew member is $1,097.40, which works out to $28.88 per hour. For a cabin crew supervisor on narrow-bodied aircraft with four or more crew, the minimum is $1,280.40 per week ($33.69/h). A cabin crew manager on wide-bodied aircraft receives at least $1,495.50 per week ($39.36/h).

These rates are the legal floor. No employer can pay less, even if the employee agrees. However, the award also includes a flying allowance of $18.40 per hour for scheduled block hours, and a training allowance of 9.5% of the minimum weekly rate for in-flight or ground school trainers. The flying allowance partly compensates for meals and incidentals, with a daily travelling allowance component of $6.88 per hour (based on ATO travel allowance rates).

How the national minimum wage fits in

The national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for a full-time adult. The award rates for cabin crew are already above that, so the national minimum does not directly apply to Qantas cabin crew. However, if a cabin crew member were award-free (which is unlikely), the national minimum would be the backstop. The award also has an introductory rate for the first six months of employment: $25.74 per hour or $978.10 per week, which is below the national minimum but allowed under the award's transitional provisions.

The role of enterprise agreements

Qantas does not pay its cabin crew the award minimum. Instead, it has a registered enterprise agreement that sets higher wages and conditions. The exact Qantas cabin crew salary depends on the specific agreement, which is renegotiated periodically. For example, the Qantas Airways Limited Cabin Crew Enterprise Agreement 2022 (or a later version) would include base rates, flying pay, penalty rates, and allowances. These agreements are publicly available on the Fair Work Commission's website. While we cannot give an exact figure here (as it changes with each agreement), the enterprise agreement typically results in a total remuneration package well above the award.

What about part-time and casual crew?

Part-time cabin crew are paid pro-rata of the full-time rate for their classification. Casual crew receive a 25% loading on top of the minimum hourly rate, so a casual cabin crew member would get at least $36.10 per hour ($28.88 + 25%). However, Qantas rarely employs casual cabin crew; most are permanent part-time or full-time.

Superannuation is on top

Whenever you see a salary figure for Qantas cabin crew, remember that superannuation is an additional employer payment. The super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings (from 1 July 2025, it rose to 12%). So if your base salary is $60,000, your employer must also contribute $7,200 to your super fund. This is not deducted from your pay; it is an extra cost to the employer.

How to find your exact pay floor

If you are a Qantas cabin crew member, your pay is governed by the enterprise agreement. To check your minimum entitlement, follow these steps:

1. Find your classification in the Aircraft Cabin Crew Award (e.g., cabin crew member, supervisor, manager).
2. Check if Qantas's enterprise agreement covers you. If yes, the agreement rates override the award.
3. Look at the agreement's pay tables for base hourly rates, flying allowance, and penalty rates.
4. If you are award-free and agreement-free, the national minimum wage applies – but that is unlikely for cabin crew.

For more on which pay floor applies to you, see our Which minimum wage applies guide. You can also compare rates in our Rate tables.

Common misconceptions

Some people confuse the award minimum with the actual Qantas cabin crew salary. The award is only the starting point. Qantas's enterprise agreement almost always pays more, especially for long-haul and senior crew. Also, the flying allowance is often misunderstood: it is paid per block hour, not per hour on the ground. And the daily travelling allowance component is not a separate payment; it is embedded in the flying allowance.

Another mix-up is thinking the national minimum wage applies to all workers. It does not. Award-covered employees must receive at least their award rate, which for cabin crew is higher than the national minimum. Only award-free adults get the $26.44/h rate.

Summary

The Qantas cabin crew salary is built on a foundation of the Aircraft Cabin Crew Award minimums, then topped up by an enterprise agreement. The award minimum for a cabin crew member is $28.88 per hour ($1,097.40 per week) plus allowances. The actual salary is higher, but the exact figure depends on the current enterprise agreement. Always check the agreement for your specific role, and remember that super is paid on top.

For more detail on how we calculate these figures, see How the figures work. If you have further questions, browse our Topics section.