Airline pilot salary: how much do you earn?
First Officer, Captain, early career, bonuses and progression: discover the broad pay ranges and the factors that make a pilot’s salary vary.
How much does an airline pilot earn?
An airline pilot’s salary varies widely depending on their role, seniority, airline, aircraft type, route network, country of employment and bonuses. The figures below are indicative ranges: pay can vary significantly from one contract to another.
- Junior first officer≈ 3,000 – 4,500 €gross / month
First airline role, often short- or medium-haul, with pay that rises with experience.
- Senior first officer≈ 5,000 – 9,000 €gross / month
After several years, experience, aircraft type, bonuses and route network can raise pay significantly.
- Captain≈ 10,000 – 20,000 €gross / month
Pay depends on the airline, seniority, aircraft type and network, particularly long-haul.
Indicative ranges, varying by airline, country, contract, seniority, aircraft type and bonuses.
Salary at the start of your career
Your first salary depends mainly on the airline you join, the type of contract, the route network and the role. A first role is usually a First Officer position.
Regional or low-cost airline
≈ 3,000 – 4,500 € gross/monthA sometimes more gradual start, but with rapid experience-building depending on activity, flight hours and internal opportunities.
Major airline
≈ 4,500 – 7,500 € gross/monthA more structured starting package, often with a defined progression scale, bonuses and benefits depending on the airline.
Good to know —the first role is usually First Officer. Pay increases with seniority, flight hours, ratings and access to more complex aircraft or networks.
Indicative ranges, varying by airline, country, contract, seniority, aircraft type and bonuses.
First Officer and Captain: what’s the pay difference?
- First Officer · OPL
The First Officer
≈ 3,000 – 9,000 € gross/monthAs a line pilot officer, the First Officer plays a full part in operating the flight alongside the Captain. The range reflects the gap between a junior First Officer, a senior one, the type of airline and the route network.
- Captain · CDB
The Captain
≈ 10,000 – 20,000 € gross/monthUltimately responsible for the aircraft, crew and passengers, the Captain earns higher pay. Access to command depends on experience, airline needs, ratings and internal progression.
Indicative ranges, varying by airline, country, contract, seniority, aircraft type and bonuses.
Career and salary progression
A pilot’s salary rises throughout their career, in step with flight hours, fleet changes and access to command. The stripes on the epaulette mark each stage.
- 2 stripes
Junior first officer
First airline role, often short- or medium-haul.
≈ 3,000 – 4,500 €gross / month - 3 stripes
Senior first officer
With experience, flight hours and bonuses, pay rises.
≈ 5,000 – 9,000 €gross / month - 4 stripes
Captain
Reaching command marks a significant pay increase.
≈ 10,000 – 15,000 €gross / month - 4 stripes
Long-haul / senior captain
Late in a career, on wide-body or long-haul, pay can reach higher levels depending on the airline.
up to ≈ 20,000 €gross / month
Indicative ranges, varying by airline, country, contract, seniority, aircraft type and bonuses.
What makes up a pilot’s salary?
A pilot’s pay usually combines a fixed part and variable elements. The exact structure depends on the airline, the contract, the number of flight hours, layovers, night flights, public holidays and any bonuses.
- Fixed part
Base salary
The guaranteed base set by the contract or the pay scale.
- Variable part
Flight bonuses
Variable with activity, flight hours and sometimes the type of mission.
- Variable part
Allowances
Layovers, meals, travel, per diem or allowances depending on airline policy.
- Variable part
Premiums
Night flights, public holidays, operational constraints or contract specifics.
What makes the salary vary
The airline
Major, low-cost or regional: pay scales and packages differ greatly from one employer to another.
The aircraft type
Long-haul and wide-bodies are often better paid than short/medium-haul.
Seniority & flight hours
Pay rises with the years and the volume of flight hours accumulated.
The home base
The base location affects allowances, taxation and the cost of living.
International
Some airlines, notably in the Gulf, offer particularly high packages.
Bonuses and allowances
Flight hours, layovers, night flights, public holidays or per diem can vary pay significantly.
A profession driven by strong recruitment needs
In the long term, the need for pilots remains high, driven by traffic growth, fleet renewal and retirements. Boeing estimates that commercial aviation will need 674,000 new pilots worldwide by 2045.
- 674,000new pilots needed worldwide by 2044 (Boeing)
- 20 yearshorizon of anticipated needs
- +50 airlinesAstonjob Alumni network · Astonfly
Want to build your pilot career?
The first step is choosing the training that fits your project. Discover our programmes or come and meet us at an open day.
FAQ — Airline pilot salary
Going further
The airline pilot profession
Missions, a typical day, roles and cockpit qualities.
How to become an airline pilot?
The steps, the prerequisites and how long the path takes.
The EASA licence
The European framework, the licences, the ratings and the equivalences.
Market & recruitment
A sector in high demand and the job prospects.
Employability
The employability results of Astonfly students.
Our programmes
One training track for two programmes.
