Flight Operations
First Officer — Global Hiring Overview
First Officers operate the right seat on commercial and cargo aircraft, supporting the Captain across all phases of flight on narrow-body and wide-body operations.
Median Salary
$92.0k
$66.2k – $129k
Demand Score
97/100
Very High
Monthly Openings
12.8K
tracked globally
YoY Growth
+16%
rolling 12 months
Market Outlook
Demand for first officers in the global aviation market is exceptionally strong. Aviation employers report a 16% year-on-year increase in First Officer mandates, driven by fleet expansion, new airline launches, and rising pilot demand as legacy crews retire.
Salary Trend
First Officer compensation typically falls between $66.2k and $129k, with experienced fos in the global aviation market commanding $129k+ at flagship airlines, top-tier MROs, and leading aerospace employers. Total compensation often includes housing, schooling, transport, per-diems, profit-share, type-rating bonds, and relocation support.
Career Path
First Officers typically progress to Pilot, Captain roles, or into command upgrades, training captain, and chief pilot tracks across airlines and business aviation across the global hiring aviation market.
Key Responsibilities
- •Operate as PF/PM under Captain command
- •Execute SOPs across normal and non-normal procedures
- •Manage radios, navigation, and flight planning
- •Support Captain on decision-making
Qualifications
- •CPL with multi-engine and instrument rating
- •Class 1 medical
- •ATPL theory; 500+ hours minimum
- •Type rating on operator fleet
For Airlines, Airports & Aviation Employers
Hire qualified first officers on CosmoQuick
Airlines, airports, cargo carriers, MROs, aerospace OEMs, ATOs, ANSPs, and business aviation operators use CosmoQuick to match with vetted first officers worldwide.
First Officer jobs by city
First Officer jobs in Dubai
23.7K openings · $120k
First Officer jobs in Abu Dhabi
19.8K openings · $118k
First Officer jobs in Sharjah
14.1K openings · $101k
First Officer jobs in Doha
21.1K openings · $120k
First Officer jobs in Riyadh
18.6K openings · $109k
First Officer jobs in Jeddah
16.6K openings · $101k
First Officer jobs in Muscat
12.8K openings · $96.6k
First Officer jobs in Manama
12.2K openings · $101k
First Officer jobs in Kuwait City
13.4K openings · $110k
First Officer salary insights
First Officer salary in Dubai
$120k
First Officer salary in Abu Dhabi
$118k
First Officer salary in Sharjah
$101k
First Officer salary in Doha
$120k
First Officer salary in Riyadh
$109k
First Officer salary in Jeddah
$101k
First Officer salary in Muscat
$96.6k
First Officer salary in Manama
$101k
First Officer salary in Kuwait City
$110k
Hiring by aviation industry
Commercial Airlines hiring First Officers
Full-service and low-cost passenger airlines hiring pilots, cabin crew, engineers, and ground staff at scale
Cargo Airlines hiring First Officers
Dedicated cargo airlines and integrators hiring across freighter operations, cargo handling, and logistics
Charter Airlines hiring First Officers
Charter operators and ACMI providers hiring across on-demand and seasonal flight operations
Private Aviation Operators hiring First Officers
Private jet operators, VVIP fleets, and fractional companies hiring across business jet operations
Business Aviation Companies hiring First Officers
Corporate flight departments and business jet operators hiring across crew, dispatch, and management
Airports hiring First Officers
International, regional, and cargo airports hiring across operations, terminal, and commercial functions
Airport Service Companies hiring First Officers
Airport concessionaires and service providers hiring across passenger services, retail, and F&B
Ground Handling Companies hiring First Officers
Independent ground handlers and airline subsidiaries hiring ramp, passenger, and cargo handling staff
MRO Providers hiring First Officers
MRO providers — airframe, engine, component — hiring engineers, technicians, and avionics specialists
Related specialties
Related aviation roles
Frequently Asked Questions
The median salary for a First Officer in the global aviation market is around $92.0k, typically ranging from $66.2k to $129k based on experience, type ratings, and the type of aviation employer.