Pilot Salary Calculator Guide
See how airline pilot pay changes with seniority, aircraft type, and airline category — from cadet First Officer through to long-haul Captain.
What Determines Pilot Pay
Pilot salaries vary more than almost any other profession, driven by seniority, aircraft type, route length, and which airline you fly for. Understanding these four factors gives you a realistic picture of what a pilot actually takes home.
Seniority: First Officer vs Captain
Pay is closely tied to rank. A First Officer sits alongside the Captain and shares flying duties, but earns considerably less. Upgrading to Captain, which typically requires years of flight hours and a command course, brings a substantial pay increase reflecting the added responsibility.
Aircraft Type and Type Rating
Larger, more complex aircraft generally command higher pay. A pilot rated on a widebody long-haul jet usually earns more than one flying a narrowbody short-haul aircraft or a regional turboprop, partly due to the cost and scarcity of the relevant type rating.
Airline Category
Regional and low-cost carriers tend to pay less than legacy or major flag carriers, who often have established seniority-based pay scales. Charter and cargo operators sit somewhere in between, with pay heavily dependent on the specific airline and contract.
Allowances and Additional Pay
Beyond base salary, many pilots receive per diem payments for nights away from base, flight-hour pay above a monthly guarantee, and additional allowances for training days, standby duty, or seniority increments — all of which affect total take-home pay.
Pilot Pay Quick Facts
Essential insights into airline pilot salaries
Typical Pay By Role & Aircraft
An indicative overview of how pilot pay tends to compare across seniority levels and aircraft categories. Actual salaries vary by airline, country, and experience.
| Role | Typical Aircraft | Relative Pay Level | Common Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadet / Junior First Officer | Regional turboprop or narrowbody jet | Entry level | First 1–3 years post-training. |
| First Officer | Narrowbody short-haul jet | Low to mid | Building hours toward a command course. |
| Senior First Officer | Widebody long-haul jet | Mid to upper-mid | Experienced, pre-command. |
| Captain | Narrowbody short-haul jet | Upper-mid | Post-command upgrade. |
| Captain | Widebody long-haul jet | Highest | Senior, long-serving pilots. |
Pilot Salary FAQ
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about airline pilot pay.
A First Officer typically earns significantly less than a Captain flying the same aircraft, since Captain pay reflects the additional responsibility of being the pilot in command. It is common for a Captain’s salary to be roughly one and a half to two times that of a First Officer on the same fleet.
Yes. Pilots flying larger, long-haul widebody aircraft generally earn more than those flying smaller regional turboprops or narrowbody jets, partly because widebody type ratings are more specialised and long-haul flying often carries additional allowances.
Regional airlines often operate smaller aircraft on shorter routes with tighter margins, and are frequently used as a stepping stone for building flight hours. Major and legacy carriers typically pay more due to larger aircraft, longer routes, and more established pay scales tied to seniority.
Most airlines pay a base salary plus additional pay per flight hour once a monthly threshold is exceeded. Many contracts also include per diem allowances for time away from base, plus separate pay elements for training, standby duty, and seniority increments.
This varies widely by airline and aircraft type, but many pilots spend several years as a First Officer, often five to ten, before accumulating enough hours and seniority to upgrade to Captain, at which point pay typically increases substantially.