How much does an airline pilot earn in 2026?

If you are considering a career as a pilot, one of the key things to know is, without a doubt, how much an airline pilot earns. In Italy, the average salary for an airline pilot can vary, depending on several factors such as years of experience and the specific airline.

In general, one can earn a monthly net salary ranging from approximately 1,900 to over 12,000 euros.

Understanding how much an airline pilot earns therefore also means looking at how their career can evolve from their initial position as a first officer to the role of captain.

What determines an airline pilot’s salary

To determine an airline pilot’s salary, several variables must be taken into account:

• length of service and flight experience;
• airline;
• type of routes (domestic, European, or intercontinental);
• country in which one works;
• role in the cockpit (first officer or captain);
• type of aircraft;
• fixed/variable component linked to flight hours and per diems.

In Italy, a newly qualified airline first officer can start at around €1,700 net, while pilots employed by international airlines or flying intercontinental routes can earn upwards of €6,000–€7,000 net per month, thanks in part to flight allowances and long-haul route pay.

How much of a difference is there in salary between a first officer and a captain?

A captain earns significantly more than a first officer, with pay differentials that can reach as much as 50–80% more by the end of their career.

Navigating the landscape of airline pilot salaries can be complex. The sector ranges from pay-to-fly arrangements—where pilots themselves pay to gain specific experience in the form of flight hours—to compensation levels that, in exceptional cases, can reach half a million per year.

To understand these differences, one must consider, in combination, the type of carrier, the type of contract, and the seniority the pilot has accrued within the airline.

Low-cost and traditional airlines: what are the salary differences for a pilot?

Flag carriers and low-cost airlines offer very different compensation structures for those in the cockpit. While traditional airlines tend to provide higher salaries—especially for captains with many years of seniority—low-cost carriers often offer lower starting pay, with a significant variable component tied to flight hours rather than seniority.

For the same level of experience, the gap can be significant: at major European carriers, long-haul captains can earn well over €200,000–€250,000 per year, whereas at low-cost airlines, salary caps—while still attractive—tend to be lower on average.

Salaries at European low-cost airlines

Among low-cost carriers, the salary of a Ryanair pilot is often—and incorrectly—cited as one of the lowest in the industry: a first officer can expect to earn an average of €2,800 net per month, with the potential to reach approximately €6,000 net by increasing flight hours.

The salary for an easyJet pilot is, on average, higher than at Ryanair and less dependent on the number of hours flown: for a first officer, pay is around €4,500–€6,000 per month, while for captains, it ranges from €8,000 up to €13,000 net, depending on their specific roles.

The salary for a Wizz Air captain is reported to be around €6,000 net per month, with the potential to reach €8,000 by flying more than 80 hours.

Carriers such as Volotea and Vueling fall into the same pay bracket: for Vueling, the monthly gross salary for captains has been reported to be around €13,900, while Volotea’s pilot pay tends to be in line with European low-cost carrier standards—with first officers earning between €25,000 and €35,000 gross per year, and salaries increasing significantly with experience.

Please note, however, that the amounts indicated may vary significantly based on the operational base, seniority, flight hours, and benefits.

Traditional European airlines: ITA, Lufthansa, Air France, British Airways

In Italy, according to recent data, the average gross annual salary for airline pilots is approximately €80,427—a figure very close to that of Spain, where the average is around €77,269. The most up-to-date reference is the National Collective Labour Agreement (CCNL) for the Air Transport sector, signed on February 7, 2025, and effective from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2027; this agreement governs the entire Italian air transport industry and applies to all ground and flight personnel.

The salary for an ITA Airways pilot is in line with national averages: a pilot with an Italian contract earns an average of approximately €3,400 net per month, with new pilots starting at €30,000 gross per year, and senior long-haul captains earning over €90,000–€100,000 gross annually—with even higher figures for those flying intercontinental routes.

In Eastern Europe, salaries are lower—dropping to around €32,000 gross per year in Romania—whereas in the Nordic countries (such as Sweden and Denmark), they rise to between €80,000 and €97,000 gross per year.

Looking at Switzerland, an airline pilot’s salary is significantly higher than the EU average: it averages around €113,000 gross per year, while other sources cite figures of approximately 140,000 Swiss francs annually for commercial airline pilots, making the Swiss market one of the most lucrative in the world.

A pilot’s salary at Lufthansa is generally higher than in Italy: the average pay for airline pilots in Germany exceeds €150,000 gross per year, while salaries for Air France pilots are estimated to be among the best in Europe—particularly for long-haul captains.

In the United Kingdom, one of the most generous airlines is British Airways, although pay levels are heavily influenced by seniority: a first officer can earn between €96,000 and €120,000 per year, while a captain can earn up to €240,000 gross per annum. Typically, for a British pilot starting their career at a very young age, British Airways is a favorable choice; conversely, if a pilot’s expected career span is limited to 10–15 years, airlines such as easyJet, Jet2, or TUI are more advantageous, as their salary structures are far less dependent on company seniority.

Airlines such as Neos, the former Air Italy, or Air Dolomiti generally fall into an intermediate category, much like major international low-cost carriers; in these cases, pilot salaries at Neos and Air Dolomiti typically combine a moderate fixed base pay with a significant variable component linked to flight hours and the destinations served.

Middle East, USA, and major international corporations

The salary for an Emirates pilot is among the most attractive, as there is no difference between gross and net pay due to a tax-free arrangement: a first officer earns a base salary of approximately 8,500 dollars per month—with the potential to exceed 9,100 dollars—while captains can earn 16,000 dollars per month or more.

The salary for a Qatar Airways pilot falls within a similar range, with annual earnings estimated between $100,000 and $200,000, depending on the role and seniority.

In the United States, the average annual salary for airline pilots is approximately $161,300, with a range spanning from $83,400 to $250,600 and a median of about $167,000. Major U.S. carriers, such as American Airlines and Delta Airlines, are among those offering the most competitive compensation packages.

Pilot salaries: a comparative table

Salaries can vary significantly from one company to another. This overview compares the indicative annual pay for first officers and captains.

Airline, private, commercial, military, and helicopter pilot

Compared to other roles, the salary of a “commercial” pilot is generally among the highest in the civil aviation sector—especially after 8 to 10 years of experience, when earnings can increase by up to 80% relative to starting pay.

Those who fly corporate jets and private aircraft often find themselves at a lower level than captains at traditional airlines, with a compensation structure heavily weighted toward bonuses, time spent away from their home base, and operational flexibility.

The salary of an air force pilot depends heavily on their rank: it ranges from approximately €1,450 per month to over €2,100 for a captain, and around €2,160 for a lieutenant colonel—figures to which flight and operational allowances, as well as premiums and bonuses for higher ranks and complex operational roles, are added.

As for the salary of a helicopter pilot, the sector is highly diverse: in Italy, recent contractual agreements have introduced pay increases and additional flight allowances, in recognition of the high level of risk and responsibility involved (such as in the case of the Fire Brigade).

Canadair, air ambulance, cargo, drones

Working with firefighting aircraft is a highly specialized field: the salary of a typical Canadair pilot in Italy ranges, on average, between €2,500 and €5,000 per month, depending on experience, responsibilities, and flight hours.

Furthermore, earnings can increase significantly during the wildfire season, when some seasonal pilots may earn as much as approximately €10,000 per month, in exchange for an extremely heavy workload.

In the healthcare sector, a medical helicopter pilot’s salary varies depending on the employer (public or private); however, it generally ranks at the higher end of the scale for helicopter pilots, owing to substantial risk and on-call allowances—which are typically added to a base salary comparable to that of other helicopter pilots working in emergency services.

As for the salary of a cargo aircraft pilot, major international freight carriers tend to offer terms comparable to those of traditional long-haul airlines, with pay that reflects night-time schedules, intercontinental flights, and a high demand for experience.

New professions, such as that of a drone pilot, command much lower salaries—often aligning more closely with those of specialized technicians than with those of airline pilots—with significant variations depending on whether one works in the audiovisual sector, industrial inspections, or critical operations.

From salary to the path toward becoming an airline pilot

Knowing how much an airline pilot earns helps in understanding the prospects of the profession. The next step is to choose a training program that truly prepares you for entering the job market.

The training program at Asteraviation Flight Academy for obtaining an ATPL license includes theoretical and practical preparation, as well as work on soft skills and airline selection procedures.