Qantas is not just another airline; it’s something of a symbol in Australia. With roots going back more than a century, the flag carrier is one of the world’s oldest and has long been regarded as one of the safest.
With over 125 aircraft currently flying and another 60-plus due for delivery, Qantas maintains a firm grip over domestic skies and continues to stretch its wings overseas. From the narrow corridors of the Boeing 737 to the mammoth Airbus A380, pilots at Qantas work a wide mix of routes, and their pay tends to reflect both the aircraft type and seniority.
Here is a look at what they get paid and a few other benefits that come with the job.
Qantas Airways Pilot Salary
Qantas Second Officer Salary
For many pilots, the first step into the Qantas mainline cockpit is as a second officer. This role is often linked to long-haul flights, where extra crew are needed to rotate during long duty hours.
At Qantas, second officers usually see starting pay in the region of AUD 75,000 to AUD 90,000 a year, depending on the fleet they’re assigned to. Those on single-aisle operations aren’t as common in this rank, but for the wide-bodies like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner or the Airbus A330, second officers remain essential.
Qantas First Officer Salary
Most first officers at Qantas have either come through the airline’s cadet program or trained independently before finding their way into the cockpit. For those starting at QantasLink, which is the regional arm of the group, salaries begin at a respectable level by industry standards. Entry pay hovers around AU$71,000 to AU$95,000, depending on flying hours and aircraft type.
Once they move onto mainline aircraft such as the Boeing 737, things start to look considerably brighter. A fresh 737 first officer can expect somewhere in the region of AU$100,000 in the first year. However, as experience builds and on aircraft like the Airbus A330 or Boeing 787, it’s not uncommon for wide-body first officers to be pulling in close to AU$200,000 annually.
Qantas Captain Salary
If first officers are well looked after, captains sit on another level above. At Qantas, a narrow-body captain’s basic salary starts at around AU$170,000, though in practice the figure rises fairly quickly once years of service and type ratings are factored in.
Captains on long-haul aircraft, like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner or the Airbus A380, command far higher sums. Many are comfortably above AU$250,000, and the most senior can stretch into the AU$400,000 region. For those at the very top, flying some of the flagship intercontinental services, it’s not impossible to clear AU$500,000 in a particularly heavy year.
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Qantas Airways Pilot Benefits
While the headline salaries grab attention, what truly shapes a pilot’s career at Qantas are the lifestyle factors and benefits.
Pilots get rosters that typically mean nine duty days in a fortnight, which ensures around five days off. The airline guarantees at least one weekend free every month, giving crews some balance that many in aviation envy.
Moreover, travel perks remain popular – discounted tickets for pilots and their families across Qantas and partner airlines are part of the deal. Insurance and medical cover are also built into the package, alongside pension contributions.
In recent years, Qantas has also added modest pay rises annually and small bonuses tied to company performance. They might not sound huge compared with the main salary, but they reflect the airline’s effort to keep its people motivated after difficult periods like the pandemic.
Overall, while the perks list isn’t over-the-top, the combination of strong base pay, rosters that don’t burn people out, and stable benefits makes the lifestyle at Qantas pretty appealing.
Qantas Airways Fleet in 2025
| Aircraft | In Service | Orders | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A321XLR | 1 | 27 | First 3 aircraft to arrive with 180 economy seats in 2025. Order with 94 options across A220 & A320neo families. To replace Boeing 737-800. |
| Airbus A330-200 | 16 | — | To be replaced by Boeing 787-9 from 2027. 10 aircraft to be retrofitted from 2025. |
| Airbus A330-300 | 12 | 1 | To be replaced by Boeing 787-10 from 2028. Includes 2 Finnair-leased aircraft, one more for Sydney–Honolulu route. |
| Airbus A350-1000 | — | 24 | Deliveries from 2026. To be used for Project Sunrise routes. Additional 12 on order for 2028, will replace Airbus A380. |
| Airbus A380-800 | 10 | — | Nine in service, final aircraft to be reactivated by end of 2025. To be replaced by A350-1000. |
| Boeing 737-800 | 75 | 4 | To be replaced by Airbus A321XLR starting 2025. 42 aircraft to get cabin retrofits from 2027. |
| Boeing 787-9 | 14 | 4 | Four more ordered in 2023 (delivery from 2027). Will replace A330-200. |
| Boeing 787-10 | — | 8 | Deliveries from 2027. To replace Airbus A330-300. |
| Total | 128 | 68 |
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Qantas Airways Pilot Requirements
First Officer Requirements
To become a First Officer with Qantas or QantasLink, pilots usually need to meet these criteria:
- Minimum age: 18 years
- Licence: Australian Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) with Multi-Engine Aeroplane Instrument Rating (MEA IR)
- Hours: Around 1,500 total flight hours, including at least:
- 500 hours as Pilot in Command (PIC)
- 100 hours night flying
- Medical: Class 1 Aviation Medical Certificate
- Education: Completion of Year 12 with passes in English, Maths and preferably Physics
- Citizenship: Must be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or hold Australian permanent residency
- Other:
- ICAO English Proficiency Level 6
- Recent flying experience within the last 12 months
Captain Requirements
Captains at Qantas are expected to have significantly more flying experience and leadership qualities:
- Licence: Australian Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)
- Hours: Typically 6,000+ total flight hours, with at least:
- 3,000 hours in multi-crew, multi-engine aircraft
- 1,500 hours as Pilot in Command (PIC) on turbine-powered aircraft
- Type Rating: On the aircraft they are to command (e.g. A330, 787, A380)
- Medical: Current Class 1 Medical Certificate
- Experience: Proven command experience in airline or large aircraft operations
- Other skills:
- Strong crew management and decision-making ability
- Compliance with Qantas’ strict safety and training standards
Qantas Hiring Process
Getting into the flight deck at Qantas isn’t a small achievement. The airline is one of the most respected in the world, and the bar is set high for both first officers and captains. The process is designed not just to check flying skills, but also to assess how well a candidate fits into Qantas’ safety-first culture.
It begins with the online application. Pilots submit their licences, flight hours, medical certificates, and documents. If these align with Qantas’ minimum requirements, the applicant is invited to the next stage.
The second step usually involves online testing, where candidates face assessments in numerical reasoning, situational judgement, and problem-solving. These are aimed at checking decision-making ability under pressure, which is just as vital as flying technique.
Successful applicants then move on to a competency-based interview. Conducted by senior pilots and HR professionals, this interview focuses on leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. Qantas wants to know how pilots respond to real-world challenges and whether they can work seamlessly in a multi-crew environment.
Next comes the simulator assessment. This is often the toughest stage, where applicants are placed in a full-flight simulator on one of the airline’s aircraft types. The test doesn’t only check manual flying skills, but also crew coordination, adherence to procedures, and overall situational awareness.
Finally, candidates undergo a comprehensive medical check and background screening. Aviation demands high standards of health and integrity, and Qantas takes no shortcuts in verifying both.
For those who pass all stages, a training programme follows before they are rostered on active duty. New first officers typically begin with domestic or regional operations, while experienced ones may directly operate wide-body jets.
Overall, the process is thorough, competitive, and deliberately challenging, ensuring that only the most capable pilots wear the Qantas uniform.
FAQs – Qantas Airways Pilot Salary
At Qantas, second officers typically earn between AUD 75,000 and AUD 90,000 per year, depending on the aircraft type and assignment. This role is most common on wide-body aircraft such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Airbus A330, where long-haul operations require additional crew.
Qantas first officers earn competitive salaries that vary by aircraft type and experience. On regional QantasLink aircraft, entry pay ranges from AUD 71,000 to AUD 95,000 annually. Moreover, on mainline jets like the Boeing 737, salaries start at around AUD 100,000 in the first year and can rise to nearly AUD 200,000 for wide-body first officers on the Airbus A330 or Boeing 787.
Qantas captains are among the best-paid pilots in Australia. A narrow-body captain’s basic salary begins at around AUD 170,000 per year, but with seniority and type ratings, earnings rise significantly. Long-haul captains on aircraft like the Boeing 787 or Airbus A380 typically earn AUD 250,000 to AUD 400,000, while the most senior captains can reach AUD 500,000 annually.
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