The role of a Pilot in the UK is both thrilling and highly rewarding. As the aviation industry continues to expand with new technologies and growing travel demand, the need for skilled pilots remains strong. From major airports in London to regional hubs in Manchester and Edinburgh, employers are seeking experienced professionals, offering competitive salaries and exceptional opportunities for career progression in this exciting and prestigious field.
Pilot salary
Base pay £59K – £89K/yr
£72K/yr average base pay
The estimated salary for a Airline Pilot is £72,262 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The “Most Likely Range” represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.
The “Most Likely Range” reflects values within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role. Glassdoor salaries are powered by our proprietary machine learning model, which utilises salaries collected from our users and the latest government data to make pay predictions.
What do Pilot earn
How much does a Pilot make in United Kingdom?
£55,087/yr
Highest paying cities for Pilot near United Kingdom
- Heathrow £95,897 per year
7 salaries reported - Manchester £74,206 per year
8 salaries reported - Bristol £67,623 per year
5 salaries reported - Leeds £65,854 per year
10 salaries reported - London £65,015 per year
30 salaries reported - Oxford £62,093 per year
8 salaries reported - Gatwick Airport £61,932 per year
8 salaries reported - Exeter £61,062 per year
7 salaries reported - Birmingham £42,599 per year
13 salaries reported
Airline Pay Comparison
| Airline | First Officer | Captain |
| easyJet | £65,000–£100,000 | £170,000–£220,000 |
| Ryanair | £45,000–£75,000 | £95,000–£130,000 |
| British Airways | £40,000–£120,000 | £100,000–£167,000+ (long-haul often exceeds £200,000 with allowances) |
How to Become a Commercial Pilot in the UK
Becoming a commercial pilot requires a CAA-issued ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot Licence), typically via an integrated or modular training route. Total training costs from zero experience to ATPL commonly exceed £100,000, plus £25,000–£35,000 per aircraft Type Rating. Low-cost carriers (Ryanair, easyJet) often upgrade First Officers to Captain within 4-7 years; legacy carriers like British Airways use seniority-based bidding, which can take 10+ years.
Curious about other high-paying careers? See our Flight Attendant salary guide, or use Debut’s Paycheck Calculator to check your take-home pay.
