How Much Do Airline Pilots Earn in Europe? A Realistic Guide to Pilot Salaries

“How much do pilots earn?” is one of the first questions anyone asks when they start thinking about a career in the flight deck. The honest answer is that it depends on the airline, the country, the aircraft and how far along your career you are. There is no single European pay scale, and published figures are often hard to compare.

This guide sets out what is publicly known, explains how pilot pay is put together, and shows how earnings usually change over a career. Figures were checked in October 2026 and can change at any time, so always confirm current terms with the airline you are interested in.

The short answer

In Europe, a newly qualified first officer at a large airline typically starts on a monthly salary in the low-to-mid thousands of euros, gross. Experienced captains at major carriers can earn well into six figures a year. Between those two points sits a long career ladder, and where you are on it matters more than almost anything else.

What published figures tell us

A few employers and public bodies publish figures you can check yourself:

• KLM (Netherlands) states on its careers site that a starting salary is between €3,300 and €5,500 gross per month, rising to between €5,500 and €8,300 gross per month after the type rating course. Both ranges exclude benefits and pension allowances.
• Germany's Federal Employment Agency data for 2025, as reported by industry sources, puts the median for the pilot occupational group above €8,000 gross per month. That figure covers all pilots, not only newcomers.
• TAP Air Portugal does not publish its pilot pay scales. Industry estimates, which are not official TAP figures, suggest that first officers can earn more than €60,000 a year and captains more than €100,000 a year, gross, depending on seniority and other variable sums.
• Airline recruitment campaigns sometimes quote headline figures for experienced captains. These are usually upper-end, first-year numbers for direct-entry captains rather than typical pay.

Independent websites also publish airline-by-airline estimates. They can be useful for a rough comparison, but many rely on self-reported data, so treat them as a guide rather than a fact.

How pilot pay is put together

A pilot's payslip is rarely just one number. Depending on the airline, it can include:

• Basic salary, usually set by a collective labour agreement and linked to rank and seniority.
• Sector or flight pay, paid per flight or per block hour flown.
• Allowances for overnight stays, meals and duty away from base.
• Pension contributions, insurance and loss-of-licence cover, which can add significant value even though they do not show up as take-home pay.
• Productivity or seniority increments that raise pay year by year.

Two pilots with the same gross salary can end up with very different net income, depending on their tax residence, their contract (employee or contractor) and their base.

How pay changes over a career

Most airline pilots follow a similar path, although the timing varies widely between airlines and economic cycles:

1. Junior first officer. Your first airline job after training and a type rating. Pay is at its lowest, and you build multi-crew experience.
2. Senior first officer. Once you meet the airline's experience requirements (and, in Europe, often unfreeze your ATPL), pay steps up.
3. Captain. Command upgrade brings the largest single increase in pay and responsibility. How quickly it comes depends on the airline's growth, your seniority and your flying hours.
4. Long-haul or wide-body roles. At many legacy carriers, flying larger aircraft on long-haul routes is linked to higher pay scales.

What affects how much you earn

• Type of airline. Legacy carriers, low-cost airlines, cargo operators and charter airlines all have different pay structures.
• Country and base. Cost of living, tax and local labour agreements vary a great deal across Europe.
• Seniority. At many airlines, seniority decides your pay, your roster and your upgrade timing.
• Aircraft type. Larger aircraft are often on higher pay scales.
• Contract type. Direct employment usually brings more stability and benefits than contractor arrangements.

A realistic way to think about it

Pilot training is a significant investment, so it makes sense to look at the whole career rather than the first payslip. Starting salaries can feel modest compared with the cost of training. However, earnings generally grow steadily with experience, and the career offers progression that few other jobs can match. When you compare schools and routes, ask about graduate employment, airline partnerships and how the course prepares you for airline assessments. These factors shape your earnings far more than any single headline number.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a first officer earn in Europe?

It varies by airline and country. For example, KLM publishes a starting range of €3,300 to €5,500 gross per month, before benefits and pension allowances. Other airlines may pay more or less.

Do captains earn much more than first officers?

Yes. Command upgrade is usually the biggest step up in a pilot's career, both in pay and in responsibility.

Are published pilot salary figures reliable?

Figures published by airlines and public bodies are the most reliable. Third-party salary websites can be useful for comparison, but they often rely on self-reported data and may be out of date.

Is a pilot salary gross or net?

Most published figures are gross and often exclude allowances, pension and other benefits. Your net income depends on tax residence, contract and base.

If you are weighing up the investment in training against a future career, our guide on how to become an airline pilot in Europe explains each step of the journey.

Sources

• KLM Careers – Cockpit FAQ
• EasyEASA – Pilot salaries in Europe (summary of airline and public data)
• Pilot Value – Pilot salary estimates in Europe (unofficial estimates, including TAP Air Portugal)

This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Salary information changes frequently; check current figures with the relevant airline.