Qantas CEO salary: How Vanessa Hudson's pay compares to the national line
Understand the Qantas CEO salary of $1.7 million fixed pay and total remuneration of $6.3 million, and how it compares to the Australian average weekly earnings index of 100.
The Qantas CEO salary of $1.7 million fixed annual remuneration sits at an index of approximately 1569, far above the national line of 100, while total remuneration including bonuses can exceed 5800 on the index.
What the Qantas CEO salary means on the Salary Index
When you read a job advertisement for the chief executive of Qantas, the salary figure can seem astronomical. The Qantas CEO salary is not a single number; it includes fixed annual remuneration, short-term and long-term incentives, and other benefits. As of late 2025, the fixed pay for Vanessa Hudson is $1.7 million per year, with total remuneration reaching $6.3 million in the 2024-25 financial year. To put that in perspective, the Salary Index uses a baseline of 100 for full-time adult ordinary-time earnings, which is $108,352 annualised based on ABS Average Weekly Earnings. That means the fixed component alone scores an index of about 1569, and the total package can exceed 5800.
For context, the mining industry index is 154.7, retail trade is 75.9, and the national minimum wage index is 48.2. The Qantas CEO salary is in a completely different league, but it's useful to understand the structure behind the headline number.
Breaking down the Qantas CEO salary package
According to Qantas' market announcement in May 2023, Vanessa Hudson's fixed annual remuneration was set at $1.6 million, effective from her start date of 4 November 2023. By September 2025, the board increased that to $1.7 million to align with comparable roles in Australia and global airlines. The FAR can be taken as cash or non-cash components such as superannuation and motor vehicles.
On top of the fixed pay, the CEO is eligible for:
- Short-term incentive (STIP): Target of 100% of FAR, maximum 160%. The STIP is based on a scorecard of financial performance, transformation and growth, customer satisfaction, operational and workplace safety, and climate targets. Two-thirds of any award is paid in cash, one-third in Qantas shares deferred for two years and restricted for a further year.
- Long-term incentive (LTIP): Maximum of 160% of FAR. This is a four-year plan with rights that vest after three years based on relative total shareholder return against the ASX100 (50% weighting) and a global airline peer group (50% weighting). Vested shares are restricted for one more year.
Additionally, Hudson must hold Qantas shares worth 1.5 times her FAR within five years of appointment.
Recent changes and the data breach penalty
In September 2025, Reuters reported that Hudson's total remuneration for the year to June 30 was $6.3 million, including a short-term bonus of $2.04 million. However, that bonus was trimmed by $250,000 as a penalty for a data breach that exposed personal data of 6 million customers. The Australian Financial Review noted that the board also adjusted the bonus structure to include reputation metrics, ensuring executives remain incentivised to improve the airline's brand even after recovery.
How the Qantas CEO salary compares to other benchmarks
If you're comparing job offers, the Qantas CEO salary is not a useful benchmark for typical roles. However, it illustrates how executive pay is structured and how the index can scale to any level. For a worker on the national minimum wage of $52,255 (index 48.2), the CEO's fixed pay is over 32 times higher. Even a professional in the scientific and technical sector earning index 114.7 ($124,200) is far below.
State-by-state, the highest average earnings are in the ACT (index 109.9, $119,090) and Western Australia (index 106.9, $115,825). The Qantas CEO's fixed pay alone is more than 14 times the ACT average. The states page shows how regional earnings vary, but executive pay at this level is detached from those benchmarks.
Tax and super considerations
The CEO's remuneration is subject to the same tax scales as any other employee, though at the top marginal rate of 45% plus the 2% Medicare levy. Superannuation is included in the FAR, but the super guarantee of 12% applies only up to the maximum contribution base of $270,830, so additional contributions may be salary sacrificed. For a typical employee, the pay guides explain how award rates and super work, but for executive packages the structure is more complex.
Reading a job ad through the Salary Index lens
When you see a salary figure in a job advertisement, the Salary Index helps you understand where it sits relative to the national line. For the Qantas CEO, the index is extreme, but the same method applies: take the annual gross pay, divide by $108,352, multiply by 100. That gives you a number you can compare across industries and states. Whether you're looking at a graduate role or a CEO position, the index provides a consistent reference point.
In summary, the Qantas CEO salary of $1.7 million fixed pay (index 1569) and total remuneration of $6.3 million (index 5815) demonstrates how executive compensation far exceeds typical earnings. The structure of bonuses, shareholding requirements, and performance metrics shows that pay at this level is tied to long-term value creation and accountability. For anyone reading a job ad, the key takeaway is to use the index to contextualise any offer against the national average.
Questions people ask
What is the current Qantas CEO salary?
As of September 2025, the fixed annual remuneration (FAR) for Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson is $1.7 million. Total remuneration for the 2024-25 financial year, including short-term and long-term incentives, was $6.3 million. This figure was disclosed in Qantas' annual report and reported by Reuters and the Australian Financial Review.
How does the Qantas CEO salary compare to the average Australian worker?
The fixed pay of $1.7 million gives a Salary Index of about 1569, meaning it is nearly 16 times the national line of 100 (which represents full-time adult ordinary-time earnings of $108,352). Compared to the national minimum wage of $52,255 (index 48.2), the CEO's fixed pay is over 32 times higher. Even a professional in the scientific and technical sector (index 114.7) earns far less.
What bonuses and incentives does the Qantas CEO receive?
The CEO is eligible for a short-term incentive (STIP) with a target of 100% of FAR and a maximum of 160%, and a long-term incentive (LTIP) also capped at 160% of FAR. The STIP is based on a balanced scorecard including financial performance, customer satisfaction, safety, climate targets, and reputation. Two-thirds of the STIP is paid in cash, one-third in deferred shares. The LTIP vests after three years based on relative total shareholder return.