Qantas flight attendant salary: award minimums and enterprise agreement rates

Understanding the qantas flight attendant salary

When searching for a qantas flight attendant salary, it is important to distinguish between the legal minimum, the industry award, and the negotiated enterprise agreement that applies to Qantas mainline crew. The national minimum wage (from 1 July 2026) is $26.44 per hour, but that is rarely the actual floor for cabin crew because a modern award covers the occupation.

The Aircraft Cabin Crew Award 2020 (MA000047) sets minimum rates for all cabin crew not covered by an enterprise agreement. As of 1 July 2026, the award minimum hourly rates are:

• Cabin crew member: $28.88
• Cabin crew supervisor (narrow‑bodied aircraft, 4+ crew): $33.69
• Cabin crew manager (wide‑bodied aircraft): $39.36

These rates are for full‑time employees. Casual employees under the award receive a 25% loading, making the casual rate $36.10 per hour for a cabin crew member. The award also includes a flying allowance of $18.40 per scheduled block hour, paid in addition to the base rate.

However, Qantas mainline and Qantas Cabin Crew Australia employees are covered by the Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia, Qantas Airways Limited and QF Cabin Crew Australia Pty Limited Enterprise Agreement 2022 (EBA11). This agreement sets higher rates. According to the Flight Attendants’ Association of Australia (FAAA), the hourly rates from 18 June 2025 are:

• Trainee Flight Attendant: $41.54
• Flight Attendant: $45.18
• Customer Service Supervisor: $62.93
• Customer Service Manager: $78.73

These are the applicable minimums for Qantas crew. The EBA11 also introduces triple time for ultra‑long‑range flights exceeding 20 hours duty. Superannuation of 12% is paid on top of these base rates.

How the award and agreement interact

The Aircraft Cabin Crew Award is the safety net. An enterprise agreement can set higher rates but cannot undercut the award. The Qantas EBA11 rates are significantly above the award, so the award minimums do not apply to Qantas employees. For other airlines or non‑unionised operators, the award rates are the legal floor unless a different enterprise agreement exists.

It is also worth noting that the award contains junior rates for employees under 21, but the EBA11 does not appear to have junior rates for flight attendants; all crew are paid the adult rate.

Comparing the rates to the national minimum

The national minimum wage of $26.44 per hour is the absolute floor for award‑free employees. Because the Aircraft Cabin Crew Award sets a higher minimum ($28.88), the award overrides the national minimum for cabin crew. The Qantas EBA11 rate of $45.18 is well above both the national minimum and the award minimum. This comparison shows that a **qantas flight attendant salary is a negotiated rate that reflects the specialised nature of the work and the bargaining power of the union.

For a broader view of how these figures, see our Which minimum wage applies and Rate tables for other occupations.

Important notes on pay calculations

• All hourly rates quoted are for ordinary hours. Overtime and penalty rates under the award or EBA11 may apply after certain thresholds. The EBA11 includes time‑and‑a‑half, double time, and triple time for extended duty periods.
• The award flying allowance is separate from the base rate. The EBA11 may have a different allowance structure.
• Superannuation is an employer payment on top of ordinary time earnings. The 12% super guarantee is calculated on the base rate, not on allowances or overtime.
• The figures on this page are for full‑time employees unless stated. Casual loading under the award is 25%; EBA11 may have its own casual provisions.

For more detail on how we collect and present pay data, visit How the figures work.