Jetstar Airways — the Qantas Group's low-cost carrier, operating across the Asia-Pacific.
An Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) captain earns an average of $151K per year, typically $120K–$195K. First officers average $85K ($60K–$110K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
Jetstar is a low-cost carrier established by the Qantas Group in 2004. It operates Australian domestic routes and Asia-Pacific services at low fares. In Japan, it is run as Jetstar Japan, a separate company. With group carriers spread across Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Japan and Vietnam, Jetstar forms one of the largest LCC networks in the Asia-Pacific. The A320 family and the B787 are its mainstay aircraft.
* Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks. Verify actual compensation with each airline's official recruitment information.
| Position | Salary Range | Avg / Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain International widebody |
$120K–$195K |
$151K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$60K–$110K |
$85K | Seniority-based |
Figures published here are reference values based on publicly available data and prevailing industry levels; confirm actual pay conditions with each airline's own recruitment information. Pay is denominated in AUD and quoted pre-tax, converted at AUD/JPY = 98. Captain pay is benchmarked against industry standards, while First Officer pay progresses under a seniority system. Transfer opportunities within the Qantas Group are also available.
Modeled from the captain / first-officer ranges above, sliced into standard career stages. Bands marked est. are derived from those ranges (not official); verified bands come from active-pilot data. Management pay is crowd-sourced from verified pilots.
| Career Stage | Years | Annual (pre-tax) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadet / Trainee | ≤2 yrs | $19K–$30K | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | $60K–$82K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $74K–$96K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $87K–$110K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $120K–$154K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $141K–$174K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $161K–$195K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
Operating from the Melbourne and Sydney hubs, Jetstar serves Australian domestic routes plus New Zealand, Asia (Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and others) and the Pacific island nations.
Boeing 787-8, Airbus A321 and A320. Approximately 90 aircraft.
Type rating training at a training center accredited by CASA (Australia) or the CAA New Zealand, using OEM centers or the airline's own simulators.
After the type rating is obtained, line training is flown with an instructor captain on board — typically around 50 to 80 legs.
Proficiency Checks once or twice a year, in accordance with each country's civil aviation regulations.
Fundamentally seniority-based. Once the CASA / CAA NZ requirements are met, upgrade follows an internal assessment.
Discounted or free travel privileges for the pilot and family, including partner carriers within the alliance.
Private medical insurance (including dental) on top of the public healthcare systems of Australia and New Zealand (Medicare / ACC).
Australia: Superannuation (statutory contributions of 11% or more); New Zealand: KiwiSaver. A generous retirement savings framework.
20 to 25 days per year, in line with Australian and New Zealand labor law.
Daily allowances while on duty, differing between domestic and international operations.
Diverse flying opportunities across the South Pacific, Asia, Europe and North America as well as within Oceania.
Staff travel benefits on Qantas flights, with access to training facilities across the group.
Hiring status: Recruiting on a regular cycle. Open to holders of a CASA ATPL. Australian work authorization is required.
Internal advancement within the Qantas Group may open the possibility of transferring to Qantas mainline.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) 🇦🇺 | $120K–$195K | $60K–$110K | Income tax applies |
| ANA 🇯🇵 | $138K–$220K | $88K–$132K | ~33% (Japan) |
| JAL 🇯🇵 | $138K–$220K | $88K–$132K | ~33% (Japan) |
* Salary figures are SSOT reference values (pre-tax unless marked tax-free). ANA / JAL shown as the Japan baseline — ~33% income tax applies in Japan, so after-tax take-home is lower than the headline. Tax-free carriers pay 100% take-home. Verify exact figures with each airline.
Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) captain pay averages about $151K per year (range $120K–$195K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) first officer pay averages about $85K per year (range $60K–$110K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain / First Officer (Regular Recruitment) — Domestic and international flying. Melbourne / Sydney base.. Key requirements — License required: CASA ATPL; English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Minimum flight hours: 4,500+ hours for Captain (guideline); Work eligibility: Australian citizenship / permanent residency / work visa. Internal advancement within the Qantas Group may open the possibility of transferring to Qantas mainline.
Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) captains average $151K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) captains earn about $13K a month and first officers about $7.1K. What actually lands each month moves with block hours flown, and where an annual bonus is paid the regular monthly figure sits lower with a spike in the bonus month.
Jetstar Airways (Jetstar) first officers average $85K and captains $151K — a step of about $66K, or roughly 1.8×. The full range runs $60K to $195K, and where you sit inside it is set by seniority, type rating and the routes you fly. The seniority table on this page breaks the same range into career stages.
Every figure on this page is gross, before income tax. Captains average $151K and first officers $85K pre-tax, and income tax, social insurance and any local levies come out of that. Take-home depends on where you are resident and on your own deductions, so no single percentage applies. Airlines based in countries with no personal income tax — the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia — leave more of the same gross figure in your hand.
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