Air Traffic Controller Salary in Australia: How to Read an Air Traffic Controller Salary and Compare Offers

What is an air traffic controller salary?

When you see an air traffic controller salary in a job ad, it's rarely a single number. Pay depends on the employer, the classification level, and the mix of allowances and penalties. The largest Australian employer, Airservices Australia, publishes a detailed classification and base salary table in its enterprise agreement. That table gives you a reliable starting point for understanding what an air traffic controller can earn.

Reading the Airservices Australia salary table

The Airservices Australia (Air Traffic Control and Supporting Air Traffic Services) Enterprise Agreement 2024–2027 sets base salaries for controllers from trainee to senior specialist. The table below shows commencement rates and increments after 12 and 24 months.

Classification	On Commencement	After 12 months	After 24 months
Ab Initio Trainee	$60,000	$62,280	$64,398
Field Trainee	$85,952	$89,218	$92,251
Level 1	$116,990	$121,435	$125,564
Level 2	$131,317	$136,307	$140,941
Level 3	$145,641	$151,175	$156,315
Level 4	$158,373	$164,391	$169,981
Level 5	$171,107	$177,609	$183,648
Level 6	$186,229	$193,305	$199,878
Level 7	$198,961	$206,522	$213,544
Level 8	$211,696	$219,741	$227,212
Level 9	$218,858	$227,174	$234,898
Level 10	$226,955	$235,580	$243,589
UTS / CSS	$247,968	$257,391	$266,142

These are base salaries. Most controllers also receive allowances and shift penalties that can add 10–30% to total pay. The agreement also includes 12% superannuation from 1 July 2026.

How the air traffic controller salary compares to the national line

The Salary Index sets 100 as full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which from May 2026 is $108,352 per year (based on ABS Average Weekly Earnings). Using that benchmark:

• A Level 1 controller on $116,990 has an index of 108 – slightly above the national line.
• A Level 5 controller on $171,107 has an index of 158 – well above average.
• A Level 10 controller on $226,955 has an index of 209 – more than double the national line.
• A UTS/CSS on $247,968 has an index of 229.

For context, the national minimum wage index is 48.2, and the average for professional, scientific and technical services is 114.7. Air traffic controller salaries, even at entry level, sit comfortably above many other occupations.

Allowances and penalties: the real picture

The base salary is only part of the story. The enterprise agreement includes several conditional allowances:

• Surveillance Advisory – 5% of base salary
• Simultaneous Operations Allowance – 9% to 18% of base salary
• Complexity Allowance – $1,792 to $4,007 per year
• Loss of income insurance – $1,194 to $1,347 per year

Shift penalties for night, Saturday, Sunday, and public holiday work also apply. During the Fair Work Commission's Better Off Overall Test (BOOT) assessment, modelling showed that some junior classifications (Ab Initio, Field Trainee, Level 1, Level 2) could be worse off under certain rosters if allowances were removed. The agreement was approved with safeguards, including a schedule for Ab Initio trainees.

Comparing offers from different employers

Airservices Australia is the dominant employer, but other organisations – such as Defence, private aerodrome operators, and regional towers – may have different pay structures. When comparing an air traffic controller salary offer:

1. Look at the classification level – Is it a trainee, Level 1, or higher? The Airservices table gives a benchmark.
2. Ask about allowances – Not all roles attract Surveillance Advisory or Simultaneous Operations allowances. These are tied to specific operational conditions.
3. Check the roster – Shift penalties can significantly boost take-home pay. A controller working regular night shifts may earn 15–25% above base.
4. Consider superannuation – From 1 July 2026, the super guarantee is 12%. Some employers may offer more.
5. Use the Salary Index – Convert the annual base salary to an index by dividing by $108,352 and multiplying by 100. This tells you where the offer sits against the national line.

For example, an offer of $130,000 base gives an index of 120. That's above the national average but below a typical Level 2 at Airservices.

What the data doesn't tell you

Jobs and Skills Australia does not publish median weekly earnings for air traffic controllers because the occupation is too small for reliable statistics. That means the Airservices enterprise agreement is the best public source of actual pay figures. However, it only covers one employer. Controllers in other settings may have different terms.

Also, the BOOT modelling revealed that junior controllers could be financially disadvantaged compared to the award if they don't receive allowances and penalties. Always read the full employment contract, not just the base salary.

Using the index to make sense of offers

The Salary Index helps you compare any salary to the national line. For an air traffic controller salary, the index is typically between 108 and 229 for Airservices classifications. If you're looking at a job ad that says "$140,000 package", ask what the base salary is. The package might include super and allowances, which would lower the index when compared to ordinary-time earnings.

For more context, see our pay guides for other occupations, or explore how salaries vary by industries and states.

Final thoughts

An air traffic controller salary in Australia is well above average, especially at senior levels. The Airservices Australia enterprise agreement provides a transparent pay scale that you can use as a reference when comparing offers. Remember to factor in allowances, penalties, and super to get the full picture. The Salary Index is a simple tool to benchmark any offer against the national line.