Qantas flight attendants are paid according to their level of experience and qualifications. As with most airline jobs, salaries start relatively low but increase steadily over time. In this article, we’ll break down the average Qantas flight attendant salary at different stages of their career.
Qantas Flight Attendant Salary Overview
The average base salary for a Qantas flight attendant ranges from around $35,000 for a new recruit up to $74,500 for the most senior ranks. This covers their basic pay before allowances and bonuses. Here’s an overview:
- New flight attendant (under 2 years experience): $35,000 – $45,000
- Experienced flight attendant (2-5 years): $48,000 – $55,000
- Senior flight attendant (5+ years): $60,000 – $74,500
In addition to their base pay, Qantas flight attendants receive a variety of allowances and bonuses depending on their role and the routes they fly. This can significantly increase their take-home pay. We’ll look at those extras in more detail later.
Pay Rates Based on Years of Service
Let’s break down the Qantas flight attendant salary scale in more detail, based on how long they’ve worked for the airline:
0-2 Years Experience
For the first two years, Qantas flight attendant salaries start at around $35,000 to $45,000. New recruits undergo a 6 week intensive training course before flying. Once qualified, they begin accruing service-based pay rises according to the Qantas agreement. After 1 year, their base salary rises to around $39,000.
2-5 Years Experience
After 2 years service, flight attendants progress to a higher pay grade with a base of $44,000 to $48,000. This increases incrementally, reaching approximately $55,000 after 5 years service.
5-10 Years Experience
After 5 years, flight attendants are considered experienced. Base salaries in this bracket range from $60,000 up to approximately $68,000 after 8-10 years service. There are generally faster pay rises during this period.
10+ Years Experience
The most senior Qantas flight attendants with over 10 years experience earn base salaries starting from $68,000 up to $74,500 at the maximum pay grade. Long-serving staff can also qualify for training and supervisory roles which come with added allowances.
Qualification Allowances
In addition to service-based rises, Qantas flight attendants can earn higher pay by completing advanced qualifications. The main allowances are:
- Emergency Procedures Allowance – $10.16 per hour for senior flight attendants trained in emergency procedures.
- Language Allowance – $1000 per year for proficiency in a second language like Mandarin or Japanese.
- Check/Training Allowance – $2.30 per hour for flight attendants authorized to conduct onboard training and supervision.
Route and Overtime Pay
The routes a flight attendant works can also impact their pay. Allowances include:
- Domestic Pay – Standard hourly rate of $32 while plane is flying between Australian cities.
- Transcontinental Pay – Higher rate of $38 per hour for cross-country and red-eye flights.
- International Short Haul Pay – $45 per hour for flights under 5 hours e.g. to New Zealand or Bali.
- International Long Haul Pay – $55 per hour for long haul international legs over 5 hours flight time.
There are also penalties and overtime for additional hours worked:
- Overtime – 150% of standard rate after 8 hours domestic, 10 hours short haul international, 12 hours long haul international.
- Early/late Duty – 125% of standard rate for shifts starting or ending between 11pm-6am.
- Public Holidays – 250% of standard rate.
Annual Bonuses
Depending on Qantas’ financial performance, flight attendants may receive annual profit share and productivity bonuses on top of their regular salary. In the 2021/22 financial year these bonuses totalled around $6000 per employee.
Allowances Summary Table
To summarize, here are some of the common additional flight attendant allowances and penalties at Qantas:
Allowance | Amount |
---|---|
Emergency Procedures | $10.16 per hour |
Language Proficiency | $1000 per year |
Check/Training | $2.30 per hour |
Domestic Flight Time | $32 per hour |
Transcontinental | $38 per hour |
International Short Haul | $45 per hour |
International Long Haul | $55 per hour |
Overtime – Domestic | 150% of hourly rate |
Overtime – International | 150% of hourly rate |
Early/Late Duty | 125% of hourly rate |
Public Holiday | 250% of hourly rate |
Annual Leave
All Qantas employees including flight attendants receive 4 weeks paid annual leave per year. This accrues based on hours worked. There are also around 11 public holidays which qualify for the 250% penalty rate if worked.
Perks and Benefits
As well as their salary package, Qantas flight attendants enjoy various benefits and perks such as:
- Free standby and discounted tickets for employees and family
- Discounted hotel and car hire rates
- Uniforms provided
- Company share scheme after 1 year of service
- Ongoing training and career progression
Salary Satisfaction
Overall, Qantas flight attendant salaries are considered quite good by industry standards. Pay scales compare well to competitors with reasonable base rates plus opportunities to earn higher duties and allowances.
Despite some ongoing tensions between unions and management, most flight attendants seem satisfied with their earnings compared to other customer service roles. But salaries still start quite low for a very demanding job before building up over time.
Career Progression
Starting as a junior flight attendant offers good opportunities for career development and pay rises. With additional training and experience, progressions include:
- Senior flight attendant
- Purser – leading and managing crew
- Ground instructor
- Check/training attendant
- International routes
- Management pathway
After many years service, salaries for pursers and senior management positions can potentially reach $100,000+ with allowances.
Conclusion
While starting salaries for new Qantas flight attendants begin around $35,000, pay rises quickly with experience. Allowances for additional duties and higher route pay also boost earnings. Flight attendants seem largely satisfied with the pay scales overall, especially after several years service.
But it’s still a demanding job with antisocial hours, so the pay needs to adequately compensate for the pressures and responsibilities. With career progression, salaries for the most senior staff can eventually reach $75,000 or higher when allowances are included.