Salary Guide
Chief Pilot salary worldwide
Median compensation for chief pilots sits at $245k, with experienced aviation professionals earning up to $343k at flagship airlines, premium MROs, and leading aerospace OEMs.
Low
$176k
entry / emerging markets
Median
$245k
global average
High
$343k
experienced / metro
Demand
86/100
+9% YoY
What drives compensation
Chief Pilot compensation typically falls between $175k and $340k, with experienced chief pilots in the global aviation market commanding $340k+ 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.
Hiring outlook
Demand for chief pilots in the global aviation market is robust. Aviation employers report a 10% year-on-year increase in Chief Pilot mandates, driven by fleet expansion, new airline launches, and rising pilot demand as legacy crews retire.
Chief Pilot salary by city
| City | Median |
|---|---|
| Dubai · United Arab Emirates | $319k |
| Abu Dhabi · United Arab Emirates | $314k |
| Sharjah · United Arab Emirates | $270k |
| Doha · Qatar | $319k |
| Riyadh · Saudi Arabia | $289k |
| Jeddah · Saudi Arabia | $270k |
| Muscat · Oman | $257k |
| Manama · Bahrain | $270k |
| Kuwait City · Kuwait | $294k |
| Singapore · Singapore | $348k |
| Hong Kong · Hong Kong SAR | $355k |
| Bangkok · Thailand | $201k |
| Kuala Lumpur · Malaysia | $216k |
| Jakarta · Indonesia | $191k |
| Manila · Philippines | $176k |
| Ho Chi Minh City · Vietnam | $176k |
| Tokyo · Japan | $319k |
| Osaka · Japan | $282k |
| Seoul · South Korea | $294k |
| Shanghai · China | $270k |
| Beijing · China | $257k |
| Shenzhen · China | $265k |
| Taipei · Taiwan | $250k |
| Mumbai · India | $135k |
| Delhi · India | $135k |
| Bangalore · India | $142k |
| Hyderabad · India | $123k |
| Chennai · India | $118k |
| Kochi · India | $110k |
| Kolkata · India | $103k |
| London · United Kingdom | $348k |
| Manchester · United Kingdom | $257k |
| Dublin · Ireland | $319k |
| Frankfurt · Germany | $314k |
| Munich · Germany | $319k |
| Hamburg · Germany | $289k |
| Berlin · Germany | $274k |
| Amsterdam · Netherlands | $314k |
| Paris · France | $328k |
| Toulouse · France | $289k |
| Madrid · Spain | $257k |
| Barcelona · Spain | $257k |
| Rome · Italy | $257k |
| Milan · Italy | $282k |
| Zurich · Switzerland | $412k |
| Geneva · Switzerland | $392k |
| Istanbul · Turkey | $216k |
| Vienna · Austria | $284k |
| Copenhagen · Denmark | $319k |
| Stockholm · Sweden | $306k |
| New York · United States | $355k |
| Chicago · United States | $289k |
| Atlanta · United States | $270k |
| Dallas · United States | $274k |
| Los Angeles · United States | $319k |
| Seattle · United States | $323k |
| Miami · United States | $289k |
| Houston · United States | $270k |
| Denver · United States | $282k |
| Washington · United States | $323k |
| Boston · United States | $331k |
| San Francisco · United States | $380k |
| Toronto · Canada | $306k |
| Vancouver · Canada | $314k |
| Montreal · Canada | $270k |
| São Paulo · Brazil | $191k |
| Mexico City · Mexico | $167k |
| Sydney · Australia | $331k |
| Melbourne · Australia | $319k |
| Brisbane · Australia | $299k |
| Auckland · New Zealand | $294k |
| Johannesburg · South Africa | $167k |
| Cape Town · South Africa | $167k |
| Nairobi · Kenya | $123k |
| Cairo · Egypt | $135k |
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Frequently Asked Questions
The median salary for a Chief Pilot in the global aviation market is around $245k, typically ranging from $176k to $343k based on experience, type ratings, and the type of aviation employer.