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Home » A Look At The Salaries Of Pilots In Europe In 2025
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A Look At The Salaries Of Pilots In Europe In 2025

FlyMarshall NewsroomBy FlyMarshall NewsroomOctober 12, 2025No Comments11 Mins Read
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In 2025, the salaries of airline pilots in Europe will remain a key point of interest, not just for pilots themselves but for regulators, airlines, and aspiring aviators. With pilot shortages across much of Europe, rising training costs, and inflationary pressures, understanding how much pilots actually earn is more than trivia. In this article, we draw on two credible public sources: Euronews (utilizing ERI data) and EasyEASA to map out salary ranges for pilots across Europe, from first officers to long-haul captains. Our goal is to help our readers understand the current state of pilot pay in Europe as of 2025.

We will proceed from continent-level averages to career progression, then to country case studies, followed by caveats, detailed comparisons, and an examination of the implications for pilots today.

Europe-Wide Salary Benchmarks In 2025

Two pilots in the cockpit Credit: Shutterstock

Let’s begin with the macro picture: what do averages across several European countries tell us?

According to Euronews (citing ERI data as of June 2025), average annual gross salaries for airline pilots in 17 European countries span a huge range: from €32,299 in Romania to €113,672 in Switzerland. That is the broad outer boundary across those 17 nations.

More centrally, in the same report, Euronews states that the “average” across those 17 countries is €80,822 gross per year, with entry-level pilots at ~€56,125 and pilots with past eight years’ experience reaching ~€100,499. These figures align reasonably with what many in the industry expect: significant upside with experience, but a substantial gap between the low and high values.

So, in broad terms, a European pilot in 2025 might reasonably expect somewhere between ~€56,000 (if junior) and €100,000+ (if seasoned) in gross salary, subject to country and airline.

It’s essential to note that “average across all European countries” smooths out significant differences, from Romania and Bulgaria at the lower end to Switzerland and Northern European countries at the higher end.

Career Progression: From First Officer To Long-Haul Captain

Pilot in training - from student pilot to captain Credit: Shutterstock

Salaries climb sharply with rank and route type. The EasyEASA site provides an industry-informed overview of salary ranges for different positions.

For example:

  • First Officer: around €38,000 to €65,000 (gross) depending on airline, country, and experience.
  • Captain (short/medium haul): roughly €75,000 to €150,000 gross.
  • Long-haul (
    Widebody
    ) Captain: roughly €130,000 to €250,000 (or higher in favorable markets) according to their estimate.

Thus, the progression is steep: doubling or more between first officer and captain positions, with further uplift for international long-haul command. That said, these number ranges are best viewed as broad industry estimates (not legal or union contracts) and should be cross-checked against local airline or union agreements. They do, however, resemble real pay scales in competitive Western European markets.

Because of this progression, the early years involve tight margins, whereas the jump to captain (especially long-haul) can push compensation into the high-fives or low six figures in euros.

Country And Region Case Studies

A political map of Europe with a model airplane on top Credit: Shutterstock 

To make these numbers more meaningful, let’s ground them in a handful of national examples, as reported in Euronews via ERI and supplemented by the limited official data available.

United Kingdom: Euronews cites that in the UK, the average gross salary for airline pilots is €90,253, and in the Greater London area, it is €115,562. It also reports that the ONS median (for “aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers” combined) is ~€95,240 (i.e., £80,414) as of April 2024. According to the National Careers Service, pilots in the UK may earn between ~€55,850 and ~€178,250, depending on experience and role. Overall, the UK is above the pan-European average, particularly for experienced pilots at London-based major operators like British Airways.

Germany: The German Federal Statistical Office, quoted in the Euronews article, reports that aircraft pilots (excluding special payments) average €12,566 per month, which is equivalent to €150,792 annually; the median is ~€10,207/month (≈ €122,484/year). They also note that “highly complex roles” can result in median annual pay of up to €342,072. These numbers can be valid for a big national carrier such as Lufthansa. Meanwhile, ERI provides a more moderate average for airline pilots in Germany of ~€106,000, with a lower bound of €73,785 for those with 1–3 years’ experience and an upper bound of €132,117 for those with over eight years’ experience. These numbers align with low-cost and regional pilot salaries in Germany.

Please note that the substantial figure of €342,072 suggests that extremely senior, highly specialized roles (or major airline captains) fall well outside typical ranges.

France: The French national statistics office (INSEE) reports that related aviation technical and flight executive roles have a monthly pay ~€9,300 in 2023, which annualizes to ~€111,600. ERI’s survey reports an average gross salary of € 87,903 for French airline pilots, rising to €109,292 for more experienced pilots. This suggests that broader aviation professional roles in France tend to cluster in the six-figure-euro range, consistent with a developed Western European wage structure.

Spain & Italy: While official national statistics specific to pilots are less readily available, the Euronews (ERI-based) data estimates that in Spain, the average gross salary for airline pilots is €77,269. In Italy, the corresponding ERI estimate is €80,427 gross, but the starter’s salary is €57,000 gross, as confirmed by La Repubblica, one of the leading Italian newspapers. Meanwhile, the tax burden in both countries makes the job of an airline pilot less attractive than in other European countries.

These estimates suggest that pilot pay in Southern European markets is somewhat lower than the Western/Nordic average, but not dramatically so in many cases.

Lower-wage markets: In Poland and the Czech Republic, airline pilots average ~€50,000, and in Romania, ~€32,299, although seasoned pilots there might earn closer to ~€40,000. In Greece, the ERI estimate is ~€56,523, and in Portugal, ~€60,054 for airline pilots. These lower figures partly reflect lower national wage scales and smaller or less well-resourced airline markets in those countries.

How European Pilot Salaries Compare Globally

 pilots prepare the plane Boening 747 to take off before a flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Cockpit with pilots of the flight. Credit: Shutterstock

Pilot pay has always been shaped not just by experience or aircraft type, but also by geography. Although European pilots earn solid incomes by most standards, their compensation often lags behind that of their peers in North America and the Middle East: regions where tax structures, airline profitability, and demand for flight crews differ significantly. To understand Europe’s place in the global context, it is helpful to look beyond its borders and see how the same profession is valued elsewhere.

Across the Atlantic, the United States remains the world’s most lucrative market for airline pilots. According to 2025 data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers is about $238,000 (≈ €220,000), with senior captains at major carriers like Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, or American Airlines exceeding $350,000 (≈ €325,000) annually when including bonuses and per diems. Even regional airline first officers, who have historically been low-paid, now earn between $90,000 and $120,000 (€83,000–€110,000) following widespread post-pandemic pay hikes. Compared to Europe’s average pilot salary of €80,822, the transatlantic gap is striking. American pilots, especially on legacy carriers, can earn two to three times more than their European counterparts at the same level of seniority.

In the Middle East, pay is also notably higher, though structured differently. Flag carriers such as Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad Airways offer tax-free packages that can reach $200,000–$300,000 (€185,000–€280,000) for captains, alongside housing allowances, schooling for children, and generous travel perks. Even first officers typically clear $100,000 (€92,000) in tax-free income. While base pay may not always exceed US levels, the absence of income tax and the inclusion of benefits make Gulf-based pilots among the best-compensated globally, net of taxes. However, contracts are less stable and often tied to short-term expatriate employment.

The Asia-Pacific region shows more diversity. In China, salaries have cooled since their 2018–2020 peak, but foreign captains flying for major airlines like China Southern or Hainan can still earn between $240,000 and $300,000 (€220,000–€280,000) and often tax-assisted through expatriate packages. Domestic Chinese pilots earn less, typically $120,000–$160,000 (€110,000–€150,000) depending on aircraft type and seniority. Meanwhile, in Japan and South Korea, pay is more modest but stable, generally €100,000–€160,000, similar to the upper tiers in Western Europe.

Compare that with Southeast Asia, where low-cost carriers dominate. In countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia, first officers can earn between €35,000 and €60,000, and captains between €80,000 and €140,000 – a level broadly similar to southern European pay scales, although purchasing power may be higher locally.

When these regions are compared side by side, Europe’s pilots sit roughly in the middle of the global earnings spectrum:

Region

Typical Captain Salary (Annual Gross)

Key Context

North America

€200 000 – €325 000

Strong unions; acute pilot shortage

Middle East

€185 000 – €280 000 (tax-free)

Housing & education allowances

Asia-Pacific

€100 000 – €280 000

Wide variation by country & carrier

Europe (West and North)

€80 000 – €150 000

High taxes; strong labour law

Europe (East and South)

€32 000 – €75 000

Lower living costs; limited benefits

For a European pilot, this context highlights both the strengths and limits of the continent’s aviation market. Europe offers stability, regulated work conditions, and predictable rosters, but heavy taxation and slower career progression can constrain overall earnings. By contrast, pilots in the US or Gulf states often earn much more but face higher mobility demands and, in some cases, less job security.

Key Caveats And Considerations

After the landing of the Ryanair aircraft, once the passengers get out, even the pilot and the co-pilot move away from the aircraft. Credit: Shutterstock

As you examine these numbers, several important caveats should shape your interpretation.

Gross vs Net Pay: All figures cited are gross salaries before taxes, social security contributions, union dues, and other deductions. In many European countries, people can spend 30–50% (or more) of their gross income, especially at high income brackets. What matters for lifestyle is net take-home pay, which is very location-dependent.

Allowances, Per Diems, Overtime: Many pilots receive per diems, duty allowances, overnight layover pay, and bonuses for exceeding minimum flight hours. These components may not always be captured fully in surveys. In busy long-haul schedules, additional pay from these extras may add nontrivially to base salary.

Seniority Steps and Caps: Many pilot pay scales use strict increments. Once you reach a certain seniority or aircraft type, further upward movement can flatten. Not everyone maxes out to the top of the “captain” range.

Cost of Living & Purchasing Power: €80,000 in Germany or the UK is not the same as €80,000 in Romania or Greece. Even if gross pay differences shrink, differences in living costs and public service quality magnify disparities in absolute terms.

Rapid Market Changes: Pilot shortages, inflation, fuel costs, and airline economics are dynamic. Salaries reported in 2025 reflect contracts negotiated in prior years; therefore, by 2027 or 2028, the landscape may shift. A current contract may be modest in comparison to upcoming renegotiations.

What This Means For Pilots Today & Tomorrow

Airline Captain working in the cockpit Credit: Shutterstock

Given this data and context, what should aspiring, early-career, or moving pilots think in 2025?

Check the numbers. If someone promises you “€300,000 as a starting captain in Europe (widebody),” compare skeptically to the survey averages (e.g., €113,672 top in Switzerland, €106,000 in Germany) and ask whether bonuses/per diem are included. The survey numbers give you a realistic number.

Think strategically about geography and the airline model. A captain post at a major Western European airline with long-haul routes may be more profitable than staying in a lower-wage country, even with a less senior rank. Moves across borders (when allowed) can yield big jumps.

Please note that to become an airline pilot for an EU-based company, you need to be a European Union citizen!

Plan for progression and “milestone breaks”. Your biggest pay jumps will likely come at major rank changes (first officer → captain) and route changes (regional → international long-haul). Know where your current step lies and how many years you need to cross to the next band.

Know your contract details. For any offer, examine the number of guaranteed hours, overtime pay, allowance or per diem policies, roster changes, and applicable tax regimes. Two pilots with the “same salary” can walk away with very different net pay.

Expect upward pressure. As the pilot shortage in Europe persists, airlines and unions are engaging in more intense negotiations. Many pilots expect 5–10 % annual upward movement in adequate compensation (base + extras) in many markets over the next 3–5 years.

Stay flexible and mobile. Sometimes, moving to another airline or country is your fastest path to better compensation (assuming licensing, regulatory, and personal constraints permit). Being open to relocation can magnify earnings potential.

source

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