Aircrew performing flying duties — rate by category.
Royal Australian Air Force
Pay rates from Aircraftman to Air Marshal
Permanent base rates, trainee pay, allowances, and take-home estimates for RAAF members.
Service
Rank
Pay period
Show
Trainee
8
- RankMinMax
Enlisted
4
- RankMinMax
Warrant Officer
5
- RankMinMax
Officer
12
- RankMinMax
Current pay rates · Source: Department of Defence.
Air Force salary ranges
Lowest
$34,220/ yr
Median
$133,735/ yr
Top
$478,781/ yr
Compare two rank groups
Tap to change
$0$100K$200K$300K$400K$500K
Enlisted
4 ranks·$79K–$148K
Officer
9 ranks·$87K–$479K
Δ Lowest
+$7,995/ yr
Δ Median
+$78,104/ yr
Δ Top
+$330,690/ yr
On top of base pay
Pay & Conditions ManualADF allowances and benefits
ADF superannuation
16.4%vs 12% civilian standard(+4.4pp)
ADF members receive a 16.4% employer super rate — well above the standard Super Guarantee.
Cash allowancesService allowances paid on top of base salary
Service2
Retention payment for specific aircrew specialisations.
Operational1
Warlike and non-warlike operations — rate by zone and threat level.
Location1
Remote postings such as Darwin, Townsville, Tindal.
Non-cash benefitsHousing, healthcare and ADF support entitlements
- ADF Health (medical and dental)IncludedAll permanent members
- Defence housing (DHA)DHADefence Housing Australia
- Uniforms and kitIssuedMaintained at Defence cost
- Tax-free deploymentOperationalOn certified deployments
- Retention bonusConditionalSpecialist trades
- Fully paid trainingLifelongTrade, leadership, degree pathways
Rates and eligibility set by ADF Pay and Conditions.
About Royal Australian Air Force Pay Scales
The Royal Australian Air Force section mirrors the current official ADF military salary rates. It covers permanent base-rate schedules and trainee schedule B.13 for 29 pay groups, ranging from $34,220 up to $478,781. Specialist, reserve, aviation, cyber, and Military Factor tables are not included on this page.
Figures are annual gross base salary. RAAF members are paid fortnightly (26 cycles a year), so divide by 26 for a per-fortnight gross figure, by 12 for an approximate monthly amount, or by 52 for a weekly equivalent. Use the timeframe toggle on the salary table above to switch any rank between yearly, monthly, fortnightly, and weekly views.
Air Force Enlisted Pay — Aircraftman to Flight Sergeant
In the permanent Air Force schedules, an Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman (ACW) earns from $79,096 to $126,292. A Leading Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman (LACW) ranges from $80,341 to $127,530, a Corporal (CPL) from $86,966 to $137,047, and a Flight Sergeant (FSGT) from $109,733 to $158,815. Sergeant (SGT) sits between Corporal and Flight Sergeant and also appears in the single-service table.
Air Force Warrant Officer Pay — WO Tiers A/B/C and Warrant Officer Of The Air Force
The Air Force Warrant Officer grade is split into three tiers: Tier A runs from $117,408 to $166,648, Tier B from $134,419 to $169,795, and Tier C from $156,144 to $169,795. Above all three tiers sits the Warrant Officer Of The Air Force (WOAF), a unique senior appointment with a salary of $169,795 to $169,795.
Air Force Officer Pay — Pilot Officer to Air Marshal
Among permanent officers, a Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT) ranges from $106,257 to $179,912, a Squadron Leader (SQNLDR) from $130,007 to $193,476, and a Wing Commander (WGCDR) from $159,440 to $220,780. Senior officer rows continue through Group Captain (GPCAPT), Air Commodore (AIRCDRE), Air Vice Marshal (AVM), and Air Marshal (AIRMSHL) at the top of the permanent schedule.
Drop any figure from the tables above into the tax calculator to see take-home pay after PAYG, Medicare and HECS, or weigh up a posting move against a civilian offer with the salary comparison tool.
Use this page when
- You want the current RAAF base salary for a specific rank and increment.
- You are comparing RAAF pay against another service or a civilian role.
- You need to estimate take-home pay after PAYG, Medicare and HECS.
- You want to understand which allowances sit on top of base pay.
ADF superannuation: 16.4%, not the civilian default
ADF members get 16.4% employer super on base pay, well above the 12% civilian Super Guarantee. On a six-figure base, the gap alone is worth several thousand a year before any contributions you add through salary sacrifice. The exact split between ADF Super (accumulation) and the legacy MSBS (defined benefit) depends on your enlistment date.
When does the ADF get a pay rise?
Pay movements come from the ADF Workplace Remuneration Arrangement (WRA), which is negotiated for a fixed term and delivers scheduled annual increases. The current pay schedule applies the latest WRA increase, with further movements built into the determination.
What is the Military Factor?
Military Factor is a recognition payment built into ADF base salaries — it compensates for the 24/7 nature of military service, liability for deployment, and conditions civilians do not face. It is already embedded in the salary figures on this page, not a separate top-up.
MSBS vs ADF Super
Members who joined before 1 July 2016 are usually in MSBS (the defined-benefit Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme). Members who joined from that date are in ADF Super, an accumulation scheme with 16.4% employer contributions plus an insurance-style death and invalidity cover.
How RAAF pay compares to civilian roles
Base salaries are broadly competitive with equivalent public and private roles, but total compensation is typically higher once you factor in 16.4% super, tax-free deployment allowances, subsidised medical and dental, and housing assistance. Use Compare Job Offers to model the after-tax gap.
Reading increments and PMKEYS plan codes
Read the table as rank → increment → salary. Increment 0 is the promotion entry point. PAA / PAB / PAJ are PMKEYS pay grade codes for other-rank tables; officer tables use PGA–PGN. Payslip labels may not match the table label exactly.
Reserve and part-time service
Reserve members on Service Category 5 (active reserve) are paid the same daily rate as their permanent equivalent but on a tax-free basis up to the published limit. Reserve and specialist tables are not included on this page — refer to the linked determination for the full set.
RAAF-specific ranks and structural quirks
The Royal Australian Air Force uses distinctive enlisted titles: Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman (ACW) → Leading Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman (LACW) → Corporal (CPL) → Sergeant (SGT) → Flight Sergeant (FSGT). The tables also include transitional officer rows — Pilot Officer Transitional, Flying Officer Transitional, and Flight Lieutenant Transitional — which are intermediate pay grades. Above Warrant Officer Tier C sits the Warrant Officer Of The Air Force (WOAF), a unique senior appointment with its own pay grade. Note that Flying Allowance is a separate specialist payment and does not appear in the base-rate tables on this page.
Source: Official ADF Military Salary Rates (PDF)
Comparing pay across Navy, Army and Air Force? See the full cross-service rank and salary table →
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Background reading on tax, super, and salary topics.
Superannuation Contributions GuideConcessional caps, non-concessional caps, Division 293, voluntary contributions, and carry-forward.Complete Salary Sacrifice GuideWhat salary sacrifice is, how it saves tax, and which types (super, cars, healthcare) are available.How Income Tax Works in AustraliaTax brackets, marginal vs effective rates, LITO, Medicare levy, and HECS — everything in one place.Medicare Levy Surcharge CalculatorCheck whether you owe the surcharge, find your tier and rate, and weigh private hospital cover against the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the Air Force recruit training salary in the official ADF military salary rates?
The official ADF military salary rates list Air Force recruit basic training at $60,517 per year effective 06 November 2025. The same trainee schedule then shows initial employment training at $69,162 for 0-6 months, $72,621 for 6-12 months, and $76,079 for 12 months and beyond.
What permanent Air Force base rates are shown on this page?
The Air Force page covers the permanent base-rate schedules from Aircraftman / Aircraftwoman through Air Marshal, plus Air Force trainee schedule B.13 entries. It also includes Warrant Officer Tier A, B, and C rows and transitional officer rows where the official ADF military salary rates list them.
How does Air Force superannuation compare to civilian employment?
This site shows ADF employer superannuation separately at 16.4% for pay comparisons and take-home estimates. Compared with the standard civilian rate of 12%, that would mean $18,040 in employer super on a $110,000 base salary rather than $13,200.
What is the salary range for a RAAF officer in the permanent tables?
In the permanent officer schedules, Pilot Officer (PLTOFF) starts at $87,091, Flying Officer (FLGOFF) ranges from $91,778 to $156,316, Flight Lieutenant (FLTLT) ranges from $106,257 to $179,912, Squadron Leader (SQNLDR) ranges from $130,007 to $193,476, and Group Captain (GPCAPT) ranges from $186,934 to $248,376. Senior officer rows continue through Air Commodore, Air Vice Marshal, and Air Marshal.
Do Air Force aircrew allowances appear in these salary tables?
No. This page focuses on permanent base rates and trainee pay from the official ADF military salary rates. Flying Allowance and other specialist payments remain separate from the base-rate schedules shown here.
What do increment 0 and plan codes like PAA, PAB, and PGA mean in Air Force pay tables?
In the ADF pay tables, an increment such as increment 0, increment 1, or increment 2 labels the salary row within a rank grouping. Increment 0 is the starting pay point when someone is promoted into that rank, and later increments are higher pay steps within the same rank. On some payslips, that promotion entry point may appear differently, so the label on a payslip may not always match the table wording exactly. Codes such as PAA to PAJ and PGA to PGN are the PMKEYS pay grade codes shown in the tables. The simplest way to read a row is rank first, then increment, then salary, with the plan code helping you match that row back to the official table.
Is RAAF salary tax free in Australia?
Royal Australian Air Force base salary is subject to standard income tax, Medicare levy, and HECS/HELP repayments — the same rules that apply to civilian employment. Some allowances are treated differently: deployment allowance paid during eligible overseas operations may be exempt from income tax under ATO provisions. Service allowance and flying allowance are generally taxable. Use the pay calculator on this site to estimate take-home pay from any Air Force rank salary after tax and Medicare.
Does this page cover Air Force Reserve pay?
No. This page shows permanent (full-time) Air Force base rates and trainee schedule B.13 only. Air Force Reserve members are paid a daily rate equivalent to their permanent rank, calculated on a service category basis, but those schedules are outside the scope shown here. For current Reserve pay rates, refer to the official ADF Pay and Conditions website at pay-conditions.defence.gov.au.
Do Air Force members get paid weekly or monthly?
Royal Australian Air Force members are paid fortnightly (every two weeks) into a nominated bank account — 26 pay cycles per year. The annual salaries shown on this page divide by 26 for the fortnightly gross figure, by 12 for an approximate monthly amount, or by 52 for a weekly equivalent. Use the timeframe toggle on the salary table above to switch any rank's pay between annual, monthly, fortnightly, and weekly views.
What is the Air Force retention or completion bonus?
The Air Force offers retention and completion bonuses for hard-to-fill specialist categories — most notably aircrew (pilots, air combat officers, aviation warfare officers) and some technical trades. These bonuses are paid in addition to base salary and are not included in the rank tables shown on this page. Eligibility, amounts, and bond periods change with each iteration of the relevant determination. For current bonus schedules, refer to the official ADF Pay and Conditions website at pay-conditions.defence.gov.au.
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