Salary by Profession in the UK: Compare Jobs, Regions and Pay LevelsHow Much Do Pilots Earn in the UK? — 2026 Salary Guide
Complete guide to pilot salaries in the UK for 2026. First officer to captain pay, airline comparisons, cargo vs passenger, training costs, pension, and career progression for commercial airline pilots.
Airline pilots are among the highest-paid professionals in the UK, but the path involves significant training investment. Here’s the complete breakdown of pilot earnings.
For a broader comparison across occupations and pay bands, see our Salary by Profession hub.
Airline Pilot Salary by Rank (2025/26)
Commercial Airline Pay Overview
| Rank | Salary Range |
|---|
| First Officer (new) | £35,000-£55,000 |
| First Officer (mid-level) | £50,000-£75,000 |
| Senior First Officer | £65,000-£100,000 |
| Captain (short-haul) | £90,000-£140,000 |
| Captain (long-haul) | £120,000-£180,000 |
| Training Captain | £140,000-£200,000 |
Pay by Airline
UK-Based Major Airlines
| Airline | First Officer | Captain |
|---|
| British Airways (short-haul) | £50,000-£75,000 | £100,000-£130,000 |
| British Airways (long-haul) | £65,000-£95,000 | £130,000-£170,000+ |
| Virgin Atlantic | £55,000-£85,000 | £120,000-£160,000 |
| easyJet | £45,000-£75,000 | £100,000-£140,000 |
| Ryanair | £40,000-£65,000 | £80,000-£120,000 |
| Jet2 | £40,000-£65,000 | £85,000-£115,000 |
| TUI Airways | £45,000-£70,000 | £90,000-£130,000 |
| Wizz Air | £35,000-£55,000 | £80,000-£110,000 |
| Loganair | £32,000-£45,000 | £60,000-£85,000 |
Cargo Airlines
| Airline | First Officer | Captain |
|---|
| DHL Aviation (European Air Transport) | £55,000-£80,000 | £110,000-£150,000 |
| West Atlantic | £50,000-£70,000 | £100,000-£130,000 |
| Cargologicair | £55,000-£80,000 | £110,000-£150,000 |
| Freelance cargo operations | Various | £120,000-£180,000+ |
Pay by Aircraft Type
Larger aircraft with more complex operations typically command higher salaries:
| Aircraft Type | First Officer | Captain |
|---|
| Turboprop (ATR, Dash 8) | £30,000-£45,000 | £55,000-£85,000 |
| Narrow-body (A320, B737) | £40,000-£75,000 | £85,000-£140,000 |
| Wide-body (A330, B777, B787) | £55,000-£95,000 | £120,000-£180,000 |
| Long-range (A350, B777-300ER) | £60,000-£100,000 | £140,000-£180,000+ |
Sector and Base Differences
| Role Type | Pay Factor |
|---|
| Long-haul | Higher base + allowances |
| Short-haul | Base + sector pay |
| Low-cost carrier | Competitive but less away time |
| Regional | Lower pay, often better lifestyle |
| Cargo | High pay, unsociable hours |
| Heathrow-based | Often higher allowances |
| Regional base | May have lower cost of living |
Additional Pay Components
Per Diems and Allowances
| Component | Typical Rate |
|---|
| Per diem (daily expenses) | £50-£100/day when away |
| Night stop allowance | £30-£60/night |
| Sector pay | £5-£30 per sector flown |
| Meal allowance | Often included in per diem |
Additional Earnings
| Source | Amount |
|---|
| Training Captain premium | £15,000-£40,000/year |
| Line Training premium | £5,000-£15,000/year |
| Type Rating Examiner (TRE) | £10,000-£25,000 additional |
| Management duties | Varies |
| Overtime/extra flying | Depends on airline |
Private and Business Aviation
| Role | Salary Range |
|---|
| First Officer (corporate) | £40,000-£65,000 |
| Captain (corporate single-pilot) | £60,000-£90,000 |
| Captain (corporate multi-crew) | £80,000-£130,000 |
| Senior Captain (UHNW/luxury) | £100,000-£180,000+ |
| Chief Pilot | £120,000-£200,000+ |
Benefits in private aviation often include car, international travel, and better lifestyle.
Training Costs
Route to Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) with ATPL Frozen
| Training Route | Cost | Duration |
|---|
| Integrated ATPL (full-time) | £80,000-£140,000 | 14-18 months |
| Modular ATPL (part-time) | £50,000-£80,000 | 2-4 years |
| University degree + flying | £50,000-£70,000 | 3-4 years |
| Airline cadet programme | £0-£100,000 (bonded) | 18-24 months |
Type Rating (Additional)
| Requirement | Cost |
|---|
| Type rating (A320/B737) | £20,000-£35,000 |
| Line training | Often airline-funded |
| Self-funded type rating | May be required at smaller airlines |
Airline Pension Schemes
| Airline | Pension Type | Employer Contribution |
|---|
| British Airways | Defined contribution | 12-16% |
| easyJet | Defined contribution | ~12% |
| Virgin Atlantic | Defined contribution | ~10-12% |
| Ryanair | Defined contribution | 8-10% |
| Jet2 | Defined contribution | ~8-10% |
Example: A BA captain earning £150,000 with 14% employer pension contribution receives £21,000/year into their pension.
Career Progression Timeline
| Stage | Years | Rank | Salary |
|---|
| Cadet/Training | 0 | Student | N/A (paying for training) |
| First job (turboprop) | 1-3 | First Officer | £30,000-£45,000 |
| Jet upgrade | 3-6 | First Officer (jet) | £45,000-£65,000 |
| Building hours | 6-10 | Senior First Officer | £55,000-£85,000 |
| Command course | 8-15 | Junior Captain | £90,000-£120,000 |
| Established Captain | 12-20 | Captain | £110,000-£160,000 |
| Training/Management | 15-25 | Training Captain | £140,000-£200,000 |
How to Become a Pilot
Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|
| Age | 18+ to hold CPL (can start training from 16) |
| Education | 5 GCSEs including Maths and English (A-levels/degree often preferred) |
| Medical | Class 1 medical certificate (annual renewals) |
| Height | Typically 1.57m-1.93m (airline dependent) |
| English | ICAO Level 4 minimum (6 for UK) |
| Right to work | UK/EU or appropriate visa |
Licence Structure
| Licence | Allows |
|---|
| PPL (Private Pilot Licence) | Private flying (part of training) |
| CPL (Commercial Pilot Licence) | Paid flying as co-pilot |
| ATPL (Frozen) | Fly as first officer on commercial jets |
| ATPL (Full) | Command commercial aircraft (requires 1,500 hours) |
| Type Rating | Specific aircraft (A320, B737, etc.) |
RAF and Military Pilots
| Rank | Salary |
|---|
| Officer Cadet (training) | £28,936 |
| Pilot Officer (after wings) | £33,660-£37,404 |
| Flying Officer | £35,188-£46,200 |
| Flight Lieutenant | £52,668-£58,596 |
| Squadron Leader | £65,820-£82,152 |
| Flying pay supplement | £10,000-£17,000/year |
Military pilots often transition to civilian airlines after service, bringing valuable experience.
Benefits
| Benefit | Details |
|---|
| Pension | Good DC schemes (8-16% employer contribution) |
| Travel concessions | Heavily discounted flights (some airlines) |
| Hotel stays | When on overnight stops |
| Meals | Per diem for food when away |
| Uniform | Provided by airline |
| Training | Type ratings and recurrent training funded |
| Career stability | Strong demand for pilots |
| Lifestyle | Mix of home base and travel |
Summary
| Role | Salary Range |
|---|
| First Officer (regional/start) | £30,000-£55,000 |
| First Officer (major airline) | £50,000-£95,000 |
| Captain (short-haul) | £90,000-£140,000 |
| Captain (long-haul) | £120,000-£180,000 |
| Training Captain | £140,000-£200,000+ |
| Private/business jet Captain | £80,000-£180,000 |
| Training cost | £50,000-£140,000 |