Airline Pilot Salary: Converting Hourly Rates to Annual Pay with Casual Loading and Super
For a full-time airline pilot under the Air Pilots Award, the annual salary is calculated as hourly rate × 38 hours per week × 52 weeks, with superannuation paid on top.
Understanding the Airline Pilot Salary Conversion
If you're an airline pilot or considering a career in aviation, you may need to convert an hourly rate to an annual salary. The Fair Work Ombudsman provides specific guidance for pilots under the Air Pilots Award 2020 [MA000046]. This article explains how to convert your hourly pay to an annual figure, including the effects of casual loading and superannuation.
How the Air Pilots Award Defines Pay
The Air Pilots Award sets minimum salaries for different aircraft categories and experience levels. For full-time and part-time pilots, the award contains annual salaries, not hourly rates. To get an hourly rate, divide the annual salary by 52 weeks and then by 38 hours (the standard full-time week). For example, a captain flying a single-engine aircraft under 1360 kg has a minimum hourly rate of $29.47 as of July 2026.
Casual pilots are paid differently. The award states that a casual pilot is paid per flying hour at 1/800th of the annual salary for the class of work, plus a 25% casual loading. This loading replaces entitlements like annual leave and sick leave. For example, if the annual salary for a classification is $70,496, the casual hourly rate before loading is $70,496 ÷ 800 = $88.12, then add 25% loading to get $110.15 per flying hour. Superannuation is then paid on top of this total.
Applying the General Formula
For most employees, the standard conversion is simple: multiply your hourly rate by the number of hours you work per week, then by 52 weeks. The hourly conversion page explains this in detail. For full-time workers, we assume 38 hours per week, as per the National Employment Standards. The National Minimum Wage from 1 July 2026 is $26.44 per hour, which gives a weekly rate of $1,004.90 and an annual salary of $52,254.80. For a pilot earning $35 per hour, the annual salary would be $35 × 38 × 52 = $69,160.
You can also calculate your fortnightly pay by doubling the weekly amount. For the minimum wage example, that's $2,009.80 per fortnight. This is useful for budgeting if you're paid fortnightly.
Casual Loading and Superannuation
Casual employees receive a 25% loading on top of their base hourly rate. This is a common feature across many awards, including the Air Pilots Award. Our casual loading page explains how it works. When using our timesheet calculator, you can check a box to add 25% casual loading to the base rate you enter. Do not enter a rate that already includes the loading.
Superannuation is paid on top of your ordinary earnings. For 2026–27, the super guarantee rate is 12% of ordinary time earnings, up to a maximum contribution base of $270,830 per year. For a full-time pilot earning $69,160 per year, super would be $8,299.20 on top. For a casual pilot, super is calculated on the total hourly rate including the 25% loading. For example, if the base rate is $30 per hour and the casual loading brings it to $37.50, super is 12% of $37.50, which is $4.50 per hour.
Using the Timesheet Calculator
Our timesheet, the home page of this site, allows you to enter your base hourly rate and optionally add casual loading. It then calculates your weekly, fortnightly, and annual pay, along with estimated tax and super. This is a quick way to see your take-home pay and total package.
Important Considerations
The conversion assumes you work the same number of hours every week with no unpaid overtime, penalty rates, or allowances. For airline pilots, actual pay may include additional allowances for specific duties, overnight stays, or flying hours beyond the standard. The Air Pilots Award also includes specific provisions for aerial application operations and helicopter aircrew. Always check the award or your enterprise agreement for your exact entitlements.
Tax is estimated using the 2026–27 resident tax rates: nil on the first $18,200, 15% on income up to $45,000, 30% up to $135,000, 37% up to $190,000, and 45% above that. The Medicare levy is generally 2% of taxable income. Our calculator uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds for Medicare, as the 2026–27 thresholds were not confirmed at the time of this guide. HELP loans, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted.
For more detailed pay guides, visit our pay guides page. You can also explore reference tables for award rates and average pay data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Disclaimer
Annual pay here is hourly rate × hours per week × 52. It assumes the same rate every week, no unpaid overtime, no penalty rates, no allowances, and no salary sacrifice. Super is estimated at 12% of ordinary earnings only, paid on top, and stops at the $270,830 maximum contribution base. Tax is the 2026–27 resident scale with the full tax-free threshold. Medicare uses the 2025–26 single reduction thresholds because the 2026–27 reduction thresholds were not confirmed here. HELP, the Medicare levy surcharge, and salary packaging are not deducted. This is an estimate, not a determination of your pay or tax.
Open the same rate on the home timesheet. Read the reference tables before treating a figure as your pay.