What is the minimum hourly rate for a flight attendant under the award?

The Aircraft Cabin Crew Award 2020 sets a minimum hourly rate of $28.88 for cabin crew members, $33.69 for supervisors on narrow-bodied aircraft with 4 or more crew, and $39.36 for cabin crew managers on wide-bodied aircraft. These rates are from 1 July 2026.

How is the flying allowance taxed?

The flying allowance of $18.40 per block hour is taxable income and must be included in your tax return. However, you may be able to claim deductions for work-related expenses if you spend the allowance on deductible items. The daily travelling allowance component ($6.88 per hour) is also taxable but may be offset by deductions.

What is the casual loading for flight attendants?

Casual cabin crew members receive a 25% loading on top of the minimum hourly rate, instead of entitlements like paid leave. They are also entitled to a minimum payment of 4 hours' work per engagement.

Flight Attendant Salary: Hourly Rates, Annual Pay, and Award Guide

Under the Aircraft Cabin Crew Award 2020, the minimum hourly rate for a cabin crew member is $28.88, with full-time ordinary hours averaging 36 per week, leading to an annual base salary of about $54,000 before allowances.

Understanding the flight attendant salary

The flight attendant salary is primarily governed by the Aircraft Cabin Crew Award 2020, which sets minimum pay rates, allowances, and conditions for cabin crew in Australia. Whether you are starting your career or comparing a job offer, knowing the award rates helps you understand your base pay. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides the official award details.

Minimum hourly rates under the award

As of 1 July 2026, the minimum hourly rates for cabin crew are:

Cabin crew member: $28.88 per hour
Cabin crew supervisor (narrow-bodied aircraft, 4 or more crew): $33.69 per hour
Cabin crew manager (wide-bodied aircraft): $39.36 per hour

These rates apply to full-time and part-time employees. For casual employees, a 25% loading is added, making the casual rate $36.10 per hour for a cabin crew member.

How full-time hours work for flight attendants

Unlike the standard 38-hour week used for many occupations, full-time cabin crew are rostered between 1716 and 1872 hours per year. That averages about 36 hours per week. The award provides a minimum weekly rate of $1097.40 for a cabin crew member, which aligns with the hourly rate when divided by 38 hours. However, the annual hours cap means actual weekly hours can vary. When converting to annual salary, we typically use the formula:

Annual gross pay ≈ hourly rate × hours per week × 52

If you assume 38 hours per week, the annual base salary for a cabin crew member would be $28.88 × 38 × 52 = $57,066. But because the award's ordinary hours are lower, the guaranteed annual minimum is based on 1872 hours: $28.88 × 1872 = $54,063. This is the minimum a full-time employee can expect before allowances.

The flying allowance boosts pay significantly

In addition to the base hourly rate, flight attendants receive a flying allowance of $18.40 per scheduled block hour. This is paid for the time the aircraft is in the air (block hours). The award notes that in a typical roster period of about 120 scheduled hours, around 90 hours are block hours. So the flying allowance adds approximately $18.40 × 90 = $1,656 per month, or about $19,872 per year. This is a substantial addition to the base salary.

A component of the flying allowance is treated as a daily travelling allowance (DTA) for meals and incidentals. As of June 2026, the DTA component is $6.88 per block hour, based on the ATO travel allowance rate. This has tax implications.

Tax treatment of allowances

The Australian Taxation Office requires you to include all allowances in your income. The flying allowance is taxable. However, if you spend the allowance on deductible work expenses (e.g., meals while travelling), you can claim a deduction. The ATO provides guidance: if you claim a deduction, you must include the allowance as income and keep records of your expenses. If you don't claim a deduction, you don't need to include the allowance as income, but you also can't claim expenses.

Casual loading and minimum engagement

Casual flight attendants receive a 25% loading on the base hourly rate. For a cabin crew member, that's $28.88 + 25% = $36.10 per hour. Casuals are also entitled to a minimum payment of 4 hours per engagement, even if the shift is shorter. This is important for part-time or on-call work.

Fortnightly and monthly pay

Wages under the award are typically paid fortnightly or monthly. A fortnightly pay for a full-time cabin crew member working 76 hours (two 38-hour weeks) would be $28.88 × 76 = $2,194.88, plus flying allowance. For casuals, the fortnightly pay would include the 25% loading.

Superannuation

Employers must pay superannuation guarantee contributions of 12% on ordinary earnings. This is paid on top of your salary. For flight attendants, ordinary earnings include the base hourly rate and the flying allowance (since it is for work performed). The super guarantee is capped at the maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. So your super contribution is calculated on your total ordinary earnings up to that limit.

Comparing flight attendant salary to national benchmarks

The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, or $1,004.90 per week for 38 hours. The cabin crew member award rate of $28.88 is above the minimum. The ABS Average Weekly Earnings for full-time adult ordinary time employees was $2,083.70 per week in May 2026. A flight attendant's base weekly pay ($1,097.40) is below that average, but the flying allowance can bring total earnings closer to or above the average, depending on hours flown.

Overtime and penalty rates

The award provides for overtime when a cabin crew member works more than 1872 hours in a year. Overtime is paid at 100% additional to the minimum hourly rate, pro rata for part hours. This means double time for every hour over the annual cap. Additionally, there are penalty rates for work on weekends or public holidays, though the award does not specify separate penalty rates; instead, the annual salary arrangement may include these. Always check your specific roster and agreement.

Using our tools to estimate your pay

You can use our the timesheet to convert your hourly rate to annual, fortnightly, and monthly figures. Simply enter your base hourly rate (do not include casual loading – use the checkbox if applicable). The calculator assumes 38 hours per week unless you adjust it. For flight attendants, you may want to enter your average weekly hours, such as 36, to get a more accurate annual estimate.

For more details on award-specific pay, see our job pay page. You can also check the Fair Work Commission's Modern Awards Pay Database for official rates.

Key takeaways

The minimum hourly rate for a cabin crew member under the award is $28.88.
Full-time ordinary hours average 36 per week, leading to an annual base of about $54,000.
Flying allowance of $18.40 per block hour adds significantly to total pay.
Casual loading is 25%, with a minimum 4-hour engagement.
Super is 12% on ordinary earnings, paid on top.
Tax on allowances depends on whether you claim deductions.

Understanding your flight attendant salary involves looking beyond the base rate. The flying allowance and overtime provisions can make a big difference. Always check your specific employment agreement and the award for your classification.