FLASH
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Switzerland's national airline, SWISS, has announced that it will cancel around 1,400 flights until October, due to an ongoing pilot shortage.
Becoming a pilot is the dream of many, but the path to the cockpit of an aircraft requires a huge financial burden: according to SWISS, the cost of training can reach up to 150 thousand euros. This raises the question: how much do pilots earn in Europe? And is the high cost of training justified by the salaries they receive afterwards?
High salaries, but with big differences
Pilot salaries vary significantly, largely depending on experience. In the UK, according to the National Careers Service, the gross annual salary ranges from €54,283 for new pilots to €173,243 for those with long experience.
According to the Economic Research Institute (ERI), pilots with over eight years of experience earn 60–80% more than those with only 1–3 years of experience. The differences are so large that an experienced pilot can earn more than three times the salary of a new hire.
The average in Europe, according to the ERI, ranges from €32,299 in Romania to €113,672 in Switzerland. In Britain, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the median gross salary for pilots and air traffic controllers was €95,240 in April 2024. In Greater London, the average salary for pilots rises to €115,562.
Germany
In Germany, the average monthly salary for pilots amounts to 12,566 euros, or 150,792 euros per year. For more complex roles, the figures can go up to 342,072 euros.
France
The French Institute of Statistics (INSEE) reports an average of 9,300 euros per month, or 111,600 euros per year. The ERI calculates the average salary for pilots at 87,903 euros, rising to over 109,000 euros with long experience.
Sweden
Average annual salaries reach around 80,822 euros, starting from 56,125 euros for young pilots and up to 100,499 euros for those with over eight years in the profession.
Western and Northern Europe
In this region, salaries are the highest. After Switzerland, Belgium ranks second with an average of 110,424 euros, followed by Ireland with 108,007 euros. Ryanair reports that its captains can earn up to 180,000 euros per year.
In Austria and the Netherlands, average salaries exceed 100,000 euros, while Finland follows with around 96,000 euros.
Italy and Spain
Official data is lacking, but according to ERI, average salaries are 80,427 euros in Italy and 77,269 euros in Spain.
Eastern and Southern Europe
In this region, salaries are significantly lower. In Portugal, pilots earn around 60,054 euros, while in Greece 56,523 euros. In Poland salaries are estimated at around 50,000 euros, while in the Czech Republic 47,974 euros. Romania remains below with just 32,299 euros, although with over eight years of experience the salary can reach up to 40,000 euros.
Rising wages, staffing needs
According to BAA Training Aviation Academy, pilot salaries are on the rise, driven by a global shortage. Consultants Oliver Wyman warn that by 2032, the industry could face a deficit of 80,000 pilots, of which around 19,000 are in Europe alone.
Pilots, among the highest-paid professions
In France, pilots rank fifth for average monthly salary. In Germany, pilots with complex roles lead as the highest-paid profession, while in the UK, pilots and air traffic controllers also rank in the top five. In Denmark, with an average salary of 13,523 euros per month, pilots rank seventh.
In a market where demand for pilots is growing rapidly, this profession remains one of the highest-paid and most sought-after in Europe – although not accessible to everyone.
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