Skip to main content

Air Force Pay Scales 2026 — Royal Australian Air Force Salary by Rank & Pay Grade

A Aircraftman in the Royal Australian Air Force earns $79,096 to $126,292 a year depending on the pay grade of their job. Below: salary by rank, which pay grade every Air Force employment category sits on, and take-home pay — all from PACMAN, effective 6 November 2025.

Official ATO ratesUpdated FY2026-27Free foreverNo signup required
Two service members in plain olive uniforms carry a wooden crate across gravel toward a hangar at dawn

Permanent Forces salaries effective 6 November 2025, from PACMAN. These are base salaries only — allowances such as the ADF Military Factor and location allowances can be paid on top and are not included.

Air Force salary by rank

Other ranks

ADF salary range by rank
RankLowest salaryHighest salaryTake-home at lowest
Warrant Officer$117,408$169,795$89,318$91,666 if levy-exempt
Flight Sergeant$109,733$158,815$84,098$86,293 if levy-exempt
Sergeant$97,575$148,091$75,830$77,782 if levy-exempt
Corporal$86,966$137,047$68,617$70,356 if levy-exempt
Leading Aircraftman$80,341$127,530$64,112$65,719 if levy-exempt
Aircraftman$79,096$126,292$63,265$64,847 if levy-exempt

Officers

ADF salary range by rank
RankLowest salaryHighest salaryTake-home at lowest
Group Captain$186,934$248,376$132,959$136,698 if levy-exempt
Wing Commander$159,440$220,780$116,188$119,377 if levy-exempt
Squadron Leader$130,007$193,476$97,885$100,485 if levy-exempt
Flight Lieutenant$106,257$179,912$81,735$83,860 if levy-exempt
Flying Officer$91,778$156,316$71,889$73,725 if levy-exempt
Pilot Officer$87,091$145,493$68,702$70,444 if levy-exempt

Take-home uses 2026–27 resident tax rates with the low income tax offset and the 2% Medicare levy, and no HECS-HELP. A member entitled to full free medical treatment under Defence arrangements may be exempt from all or half of the Medicare levy depending on their dependants, so we also show the figure with the levy fully exempted. Check any salary exactly with the take-home pay calculator.

Air Force pay grades: which jobs are on which grade

From PACMAN Schedule B.11 Part 3. Where PACMAN gives a grade within a category (for example “Rifleman (Grade 2)”), each grade of that category can sit at a different pay grade. The salaries shown are the lowest increment for each rank.

Pay grade 1

Aircraftman: $79,096 · Corporal: $86,966 · Sergeant: $97,575

5 employment categories at pay grade 1
  • General Enlisted Duties
  • Mess Operator (Grade 1)
  • Security Forces (Grade 1)
  • Steward (Grade 1)
  • Telephone Operator

Pay grade 2

Aircraftman: $82,322 · Corporal: $90,189 · Sergeant: $100,797

11 employment categories at pay grade 2
  • Chef (Grade 1)
  • Crew Attendant General — Time Progression Fly 0
  • Dental Assistant
  • Dental Assistant (Grade 1)
  • Mess Operator (Grade 2)
  • Motor Transport Driver (Grade 1)
  • Movements (Grade 1)
  • Personnel Capability Specialist — Operator
  • Security Forces (Grade 2)
  • Steward (Grade 2)
  • Supply (Grade 1)

Pay grade 3

Aircraftman: $86,453 · Corporal: $94,324 · Sergeant: $104,930

19 employment categories at pay grade 3
  • Aircraft Mechanic
  • Air Force Police (Grade 1)
  • Armament Mechanic
  • Avionics Mechanic
  • Chef (Grade 2)
  • Communications Electronic Mechanic
  • Crew Attendant — Competency Progression (Grade 1)
  • Crew Attendant — Time Progression Fly 0
  • Crew Attendant General — Time Progression Fly 0‑2 (Grade 1)
  • Dental Assistant (Grade 2)
  • Firefighter
  • Medical Technician (Grade 1)
  • Motor Transport Driver (Grade 2)
  • Movements (Grade 2)
  • Personnel Capability Specialist — Coordinator
  • Physical Training Instructor (Grade 1)
  • Security Forces (Grade 3)
  • Supply (Grade 2)
  • Tailor

Pay grade 4

Aircraftman: $90,919 · Corporal: $98,787 · Sergeant: $109,397

41 employment categories at pay grade 4
  • Aeronautical Life Support Fitter (Grade 1)
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst (Ground) (Non‑Feeder) (Grade 1)
  • Aircraft Fitter (Grade 1)
  • Aircraft Surface Finisher
  • Aircraft Structural Fitter (Grade 1)
  • Aircraft Surface Finisher (Grade 1)
  • Air Force Imagery Specialist (Grade 1)
  • Air Force Police (Grade 2)
  • Air Surveillance Operator (Grade 1)
  • Armament Fitter (Grade 1)
  • Avionics Fitter (Grade 1)
  • Carpenter (Grade 1)
  • Chef (Grade 3)
  • Communications and Information Systems Controller (Grade 1)
  • Communications Electronic Fitter (Grade 1)
  • Crew Attendant — Competency Progression (Grade 2)
  • Crew Attendant — Time Progression Fly 0‑2 (Grade 1)
  • Dental Supervisor
  • Electrician (Grade 1)
  • Electroplater
  • Environmental Health Surveyor
  • Firefighter (Grade 1)
  • Firefighter (Grade 2)
  • Ground Mechanical Engineering Fitter (Grade 1)
  • Ground Support Equipment Fitter (Grade 1)
  • Loadmaster — Time Progression Fly 0
  • Medical Technician (Grade 2)
  • Metal Mechanist (Grade 1)
  • Movements (Grade 3)
  • Musician (Grade 2)
  • Network Technician (Grade 1)
  • Operating Theatre Technician
  • Personnel Capability Specialist — Specialist
  • Physical Training Instructor (Grade 2)
  • Physical Training Instructor (Grade 3)
  • Plant Operator (Grade 1)
  • Plumber (Grade 1)
  • Security Forces (Grade 4)
  • Senior Dental Assistant — Preventative
  • Space System Operator (Foundation)
  • Supply (Grade 3)

Pay grade 5

Aircraftman: $95,741 · Corporal: $103,607 · Sergeant: $114,219

51 employment categories at pay grade 5
  • Advanced Aircraft Surface Finisher
  • Advanced Ground Mechanical Engineering Fitter
  • Advanced Ground Support Equipment Fitter
  • Aeronautical Life Support Fitter (Grade 2)
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst (Air) (Non‑Feeder) (Grade 1)
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst (Ground) (Feeder) (Grade 1)
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst (Ground) (Grade 2)
  • Aircraft Fitter (Grade 2)
  • Aircraft Structural Fitter (Grade 2)
  • Air Force Imagery Specialist (Grade 2)
  • Air Force Police (Grade 3)
  • Air Intelligence Analyst — Geospatial Intelligence (Grade 1)
  • Air Intelligence Analyst — Operational Intelligence (Grade 1)
  • Air Intelligence Analyst — Signals Intelligence (Grade 1)
  • Air Surveillance Operator (Grade 2)
  • Armament Fitter (Grade 2)
  • Avionics Fitter (Grade 2)
  • Carpenter (Grade 2)
  • Communications Electronic Fitter (Grade 2)
  • Communications and Information Systems Controller
  • Communications and Information Systems Controller (Grade 2)
  • Crew Attendant — Competency Progression (Grade 3)
  • Crew Attendant — Time Progression Fly 2‑4 (Grade 2)
  • Crew Attendant — Time Progression Fly 4‑6 (Grade 3)
  • Cyber Warfare Specialist (Grade 1)
  • Dental Manager
  • Dental Technician
  • Electrician (Grade 2)
  • Firefighter (Grade 3)
  • Firefighter Manager
  • Flight Engineer — Time Progression Fly 0
  • Flight Engineer — Time Progression Fly 0‑2 (Grade 1)
  • Ground Mechanical Engineering Fitter (Grade 2)
  • Ground Support Engineering Manager (Grade 1)
  • Ground Support Equipment Fitter (Grade 2)
  • Laboratory Technician
  • Loadmaster — Competency Progression (Grade 1)
  • Loadmaster — Time Progression Fly 0‑2 (Grade 1)
  • Loadmaster — Time Progression Fly 2‑4 (Grade 2)
  • Medical Technician (Grade 3)
  • Medical Technician Supervisor
  • Metal Machinist (Grade 2)
  • Musician (Grade 3)
  • Network Technician (Grade 2)
  • Plant Operator (Grade 2)
  • Plumber (Grade 2)
  • Physical Training Instructor (Grade 4)
  • Security Forces (Grade 5)
  • Space System Operator (Foundation)
  • Space System Operator (Intermediate)
  • Works Supervisor (Grade 1)

Pay grade 6

Aircraftman: $100,947 · Corporal: $108,817 · Sergeant: $119,427

49 employment categories at pay grade 6
  • Advanced Aircraft Structural Fitter
  • Advanced Aircraft Structural Technician
  • Advanced Aircraft Technician
  • Advanced Avionics Technician
  • Advanced Communications Electronic Technician
  • Aeronautical Life Support Technician
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst (Air) (Feeder) (Grade 1)
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst (Air) (Grade 2)
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst (Ground) (Grade 3)
  • Aircraft Surface Finisher Supervisor
  • Aircraft Structural Technician
  • Aircraft Technician
  • Aircraft Technician (Grade 1)
  • Aircraft Technician (Grade 2)
  • Air Force Police (Grade 4)
  • Air Intelligence Analyst — Geospatial Intelligence (Grade 2)
  • Air Intelligence Analyst — Operational Intelligence (Grade 2)
  • Air Intelligence Analyst — Signals Intelligence (Grade 2)
  • Air Surveillance Operator Supervisor
  • Armament Technician
  • Avionics Technician
  • Avionics Technician (Grade 1)
  • Avionics Technician (Grade 2)
  • Carpenter Foreman
  • Communications and Information Systems Controller (Grade 3)
  • Communications Electronic Technician
  • Crew Attendant — Competency Progression (Grade 4)
  • Crew Attendant — Time Progression Fly 6‑8 (Grade 4)
  • Cyber Warfare Specialist (Grade 2)
  • Detachment Supervisor Communications and Information System Controller
  • Electrician Foreman
  • Flight Engineer — Competency Progression (Grade 1)
  • Flight Engineer — Time Progression Fly 2‑4 (Grade 2)
  • Ground Mechanical Engineering Supervisor
  • Ground Mechanical Engineering Technician
  • Ground Support Engineering Manager (Grade 2)
  • Ground Support Engineering Technician
  • Ground Support Equipment Supervisor
  • Ground Support Equipment Technician
  • Loadmaster — Competency Progression (Grade 2)
  • Loadmaster — Time Progression Fly 4‑6 (Grade 3)
  • Medical Technician Manager
  • Network Technician Advanced
  • Plant Operator Foreman
  • Plumber Foreman
  • Security Forces (Grade 6)
  • Space System Supervisor (Intermediate)
  • Supervisor Communications and Information Systems Controller
  • Works Supervisor (Grade 2)

Pay grade 7

Aircraftman: $106,572 · Corporal: $114,442 · Sergeant: $125,047

35 employment categories at pay grade 7
  • Aeronautical Life Support Supervisor
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst (Air) (Grade 3)
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst (Ground) (Grade 4)
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst (Ground) (Grade 5)
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst —Time Progression Fly 6‑8 (Grade 4)
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst Single Station — Time Progression Fly 6‑8 (Grade 4)
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst Single Station — Time Progression Fly 8‑10 (Grade 5)
  • Aircraft Structures Supervisor
  • Aircraft Supervisor
  • Aircraft Surface Finisher Technical Manager
  • Air Intelligence Analyst — Geospatial Intelligence (Grade 3)
  • Air Intelligence Analyst — Operational Intelligence (Grade 3)
  • Air Intelligence Analyst — Signals Intelligence (Grade 3)
  • Air Surveillance Operator Manager
  • Armament Supervisor
  • Avionics Supervisor
  • Communications Electronics Supervisor
  • Crew Attendant — Time Progression Fly 8‑10 (Grade 5)
  • Crew Attendant — Time Progression Fly 10+ (Grade 6)
  • Cyber Warfare Specialist (Grade 3)
  • Flight Engineer — Competency Progression (Grade 2)
  • Flight Engineer — Time Progression Fly 4‑6 (Grade 3)
  • Flight Engineer — Time Progression Fly 6‑8 (Grade 4)
  • Ground Support Equipment Technician Supervisor
  • Ground Technical Manager
  • Loadmaster — Competency Progression (Grade 3)
  • Loadmaster — Competency Progression (Grade 4)
  • Loadmaster — Time Progression Fly 6 (Grade 4)
  • Loadmaster — Time Progression Fly 8 (Grade 5)
  • Manager Communications and Information Systems Controller
  • Network Technician Supervisor
  • Non‑Destructive Inspection Technician (Level 1)
  • Space Mission Supervisor (Advanced)
  • Space Mission Supervisor (Intermediate)
  • Supervisor Trades

Pay grade 8

Aircraftman: $112,644 · Corporal: $120,514 · Sergeant: $131,122

32 employment categories at pay grade 8
  • Aeronautical Life Support Technical Manager
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst (Air) (Grade 4)
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst (Air) (Grade 5)
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst — Time Progression Fly 8‑10 (Grade 5)
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst — Time Progression Fly 10+ (Grade 6)
  • Airborne Electronics Analyst Single Station — Time Progression Fly 10+ (Grade 6)
  • Aircraft Structures Technical Manager
  • Aircraft Systems Technician
  • Aircraft Technical Manager
  • Air Intelligence Analyst — Geospatial Intelligence (Grade 4)
  • Air Intelligence Analyst — Operational Intelligence (Grade 4)
  • Air Intelligence Analyst — Signals Intelligence (Grade 4)
  • Armament Technical Manager
  • Avionics Systems Technician
  • Avionics Technical Manager
  • Combat Control Operator (Foundation)
  • Communications Electronic Systems Technician
  • Communications Electronic Technical Manager
  • Cyber Warfare Specialist (Grade 4)
  • Cyber Warfare Specialist (Grade 5)
  • Flight Engineer — Competency Progression (Grade 3)
  • Flight Engineer — Competency Progression (Grade 4)
  • Flight Engineer — Competency Progression (Grade 5)
  • Flight Engineer — Time Progression Fly 8‑10 (Grade 5)
  • Flight Engineer — Time Progression Fly 10+ (Grade 6)
  • Loadmaster — Time Progression Fly 10+ (Grade 6)
  • Manager Trades
  • Network Technician Technical Manager
  • Non‑Destructive Inspection Technician (Level 2)
  • Space Mission Manager (Advanced)
  • Space Mission Manager (Master)
  • Works Manager

Pay grade 9

Aircraftman: $119,203 · Corporal: $127,074 · Sergeant: $137,681

1 employment category at pay grade 9
  • Combat Control Operator (Intermediate)

Pay grade 10

Aircraftman: $126,292 · Corporal: $134,164 · Sergeant: $144,768

2 employment categories at pay grade 10
  • Combat Control Operator (Advanced)
  • Combat Control Operator (Master)

Recruit and trainee pay

ADF trainee salary rates
Training stageYearly salaryTake-home
Normal entry recruit during basic recruit training$60,517$50,724
Initial category, trade or employment training — first 6 months$69,162$56,510
Initial category, trade or employment training — 6 to 12 months$72,621$58,863
Initial category, trade or employment training — 12 months or more$76,079$61,213

Full Air Force pay scales by increment and pay grade

Warrant Officer

Warrant Officer salary by increment and pay grade
IncrementPG 1PG 2PG 3PG 4PG 5PG 6PG 7PG 8PG 9PG 10
Tier C———————$156,144$162,712$169,795
Tier B———$134,419$139,245$144,452$150,074$156,144$162,712$169,795
Tier A2$119,455$122,679$126,815$131,275$136,098$141,304$146,930$153,002$159,562$166,648
Tier A1$117,408$120,630$124,762$129,230$134,052$139,253$144,881$150,955$157,512$164,598

Flight Sergeant

Flight Sergeant salary by increment and pay grade
IncrementPG 1PG 2PG 3PG 4PG 5PG 6PG 7PG 8PG 9PG 10
1$111,623$114,844$118,979$123,446$128,267$133,473$139,097$145,172$151,730$158,815
0$109,733$112,956$117,094$121,557$126,379$131,586$137,211$143,286$149,842$156,929

Sergeant

Sergeant salary by increment and pay grade
IncrementPG 1PG 2PG 3PG 4PG 5PG 6PG 7PG 8PG 9PG 10
2$100,898$104,120$108,257$112,718$117,543$122,747$128,371$134,445$141,006$148,091
1$99,220$102,443$106,575$111,041$115,864$121,073$126,690$132,767$139,326$146,413
0$97,575$100,797$104,930$109,397$114,219$119,427$125,047$131,122$137,681$144,768

Corporal

Corporal salary by increment and pay grade
IncrementPG 1PG 2PG 3PG 4PG 5PG 6PG 7PG 8PG 9PG 10
2$89,857$93,081$97,212$101,677$106,503$111,706$117,327$123,404$129,959$137,047
1$88,398$91,620$95,754$100,219$105,042$110,246$115,871$121,945$128,502$135,586
0$86,966$90,189$94,324$98,787$103,607$108,817$114,442$120,514$127,074$134,164

Leading Aircraftman

Leading Aircraftman salary by increment and pay grade
IncrementPG 1PG 2PG 3PG 4PG 5PG 6PG 7PG 8PG 9PG 10
0$80,341$83,565$87,700$92,164$96,985$102,194$107,814$113,887$120,448$127,530

Aircraftman

Aircraftman salary by increment and pay grade
IncrementPG 1PG 2PG 3PG 4PG 5PG 6PG 7PG 8PG 9PG 10
0$79,096$82,322$86,453$90,919$95,741$100,947$106,572$112,644$119,203$126,292

Group Captain

Group Captain salary by increment and pay grade
IncrementPG 1PG 2PG 3PG 4PG 5PG 6PG 7PG 8PG 9PG 10
O6-1$192,318$197,710$203,932$209,323$215,338$222,075$228,844$236,158$243,480$248,376
O6-0$186,934$192,324$198,552$203,938$209,953$216,693$223,452$230,777$238,100$242,990

Wing Commander

Wing Commander salary by increment and pay grade
IncrementPG 1PG 2PG 3PG 4PG 5PG 6PG 7PG 8PG 9PG 10
O5-1$164,718$170,113$176,340$181,730$187,741$194,479$201,244$208,567$215,886$220,780
O5-0$159,440$164,832$171,058$176,450$182,462$189,202$195,963$203,286$210,608$215,502

Squadron Leader

Squadron Leader salary by increment and pay grade
IncrementPG 1PG 2PG 3PG 4PG 5PG 6PG 7PG 8PG 9PG 10
O4-2$137,420$142,811$149,037$154,428$160,440$167,178$173,943$181,265$188,583$193,476
O4-1$133,718$139,113$145,336$150,726$156,738$163,481$170,243$177,565$184,887$189,775
O4-0$130,007$135,402$141,624$147,014$153,028$159,769$166,532$173,855$181,175$186,067

Flight Lieutenant

Flight Lieutenant salary by increment and pay grade
IncrementPG 1PG 2PG 3PG 4PG 5PG 6PG 7PG 8PG 9PG 10
O3-5$123,850$129,247$135,472$140,861$146,875$153,614$160,378$167,702$175,024$179,912
O3-4$120,330$125,724$131,950$137,344$143,354$150,093$156,855$164,176$171,501$176,389
O3-3$116,802$122,193$128,418$133,807$139,823$146,563$153,327$160,647$167,970$172,856
O3-2$113,290$118,688$124,909$130,298$136,314$143,052$149,813$157,140$164,463$169,351
O3-1$109,781$115,172$121,395$126,787$132,802$139,539$146,302$153,622$160,944$165,839
O3-0$106,257$111,646$117,869$123,260$129,275$136,012$142,778$150,100$157,417$162,312

Flying Officer

Flying Officer salary by increment and pay grade
IncrementPG 1PG 2PG 3PG 4PG 5PG 6PG 7PG 8PG 9PG 10
O2-3$100,259$105,647$111,872$117,264$123,270$130,010$136,778$144,101$151,421$156,316
O2-2$97,357$102,750$108,973$114,362$120,377$127,117$133,881$141,203$148,526$153,415
O2-1$94,508$99,899$106,126$111,517$117,527$124,265$131,030$138,356$145,675$150,567
O2-0$91,778$97,168$103,395$108,786$114,798$121,538$128,300$135,620$142,944$147,835

Pilot Officer

Pilot Officer salary by increment and pay grade
IncrementPG 1PG 2PG 3PG 4PG 5PG 6PG 7PG 8PG 9PG 10
O1-1$89,435$94,828$101,055$106,443$112,455$119,196$125,958$133,279$140,603$145,493
O1-0$87,091$92,486$98,708$104,099$110,113$116,850$123,618$130,935$138,260$143,150

Air Force pay questions

A Aircraftman earns $79,096 a year at pay grade 1 and $126,292 at pay grade 10 (PACMAN, effective 6 November 2025). The pay grade comes from your employment category.

A Sergeant earns $97,575 to $148,091 a year, depending on pay grade and increment.

A Pilot Officer earns from $87,091 a year, rising to $145,493 depending on pay grade and increment.

PACMAN Schedule B.11 lists every Air Force employment category against a pay grade from 1 to 10. This page reproduces that list — find your category in the pay-grade section above.
How this page is sourced▼

Every salary was read from the ADF Pay and Conditions Manual (PACMAN), Chapter 3 Part 1, on 23 September 2026. PACMAN states the rates are the “ADF Military Salary – 6 November 2025” rates. The large tables were extracted programmatically from PACMAN and checked against PACMAN’s own published example (Lieutenant, pay grade 4, increment 1: $111,517). Nothing is estimated.

Allowances are not included: PACMAN’s allowance-rate pages could not be read when this page was checked, so we do not publish allowance amounts. Reserve members are paid daily rates, which are not shown.

Sources & References

  1. 1
    PACMAN Chapter 3 Part 1: Salaries— Department of Defence — ADF Pay and Conditions
  2. 2
    Schedule B.12: Other rank salary rates— Department of Defence — ADF Pay and Conditions
  3. 3
    Schedule B.3: Officer salary rates— Department of Defence — ADF Pay and Conditions
  4. 4
  5. 5
    Schedule B.13: Trainee salary rates— Department of Defence — ADF Pay and Conditions
  6. 6
    Schedule B.11: Other rank pay grades— Department of Defence — ADF Pay and Conditions
  7. 7

Last verified: 23 September 2026. Our content is based on the latest information from official Australian government sources.

What to check next

People reading this page usually work these out too.