Page navigation menu

Jump to contentJump to featured itemsJump to site navigation main-menuJump to site navigation sub-menuJump to searchJump to page headerJump to page footerList of access keys
 

Featured items

There are no featured items on this page

Return to page navigation menu
Return to page navigation menu

Aeroplane Pilot - Pay and progression

Kaiwhakarere

Pay

Pay for aeroplane pilots varies depending on the pilot's employer, position, the type and size of the plane they fly, the route they travel, and the pilot's seniority at their company.

Charter pilots

Entry-level charter pilots typically work on a part-time, on-call basis, and may be paid an hourly rate. They can earn $25,000 a year, and progress to $40,000 as they gain more experience, ratings, and responsibility.

Aeroplane pilots working for regional airlines

  • Entry-level pay for aeroplane pilots at regional airlines is between $23,000 and $25,000 a year. When pilots pass simulator tests and complete on-the-job training, they can expect between $40,000 and $42,000.
  • With three to five years' experience, they may progress to the level of captain, and may earn $95,000 or more.

Aeroplane pilots working on national routes

  • National airline aeroplane pilots who are first officers on domestic routes (and fly turboprop aircraft) can expect to earn $38,000 when starting out. This can rise to $63,000 after 10-12 years' service.
  • Captains can earn about $49,000 in their first year. This can rise to $108,000 after 10 to 12 years' service.

Aeroplane pilots working on international routes

  • First officer aeroplane pilots on international routes (jet aircraft) may start on a training rate of about $31,000. When qualified, they can earn $92,000 in their first year. This can rise to about $168,000 after 10 years' service.
  • Captains on international routes can earn about $157,000 in their first year. This can rise as high as $262,000 after 10 years' service.
Airlines also offer travel privileges for employees and some family members.

According to the 2006 Census, aeroplane pilots earned an average of $83,300 a year and worked an average of 39 hours per week. This includes full and part-time workers.

This information is provided as a guide only

Career Progression

Experience and training can help you progress in this job.

Some charter pilots combine part-time, on-call flying with a second career to supplement their incomes.

Airline pilots may transfer to ground-based management roles.

One example of how you may progress through this job is shown in the table below.

 

Licensed commercial pilot

Type of training or experience

  • Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL)
  • 200 hours' flying time

First officer

Type of training or experience

  • Minimum of 1,000 to 2,000 hours' flying time
  • New Zealand Air Transport Pilot Licence

Domestic/trans-Tasman captain

Type of training or experience

  • Ongoing training and professional development
  • Typically have seven or more years' experience

International captain

Type of training or experience

  • Training in piloting larger aircraft
  • Proven experience as a domestic/trans-Tasman captain
  • Typically have 15 or more years' experience

Key tasks or responsibilities

Licenced commercial pilots may work as:

  • Flying instructors – teaching the principles of flight, navigation and how to handle aircraft.
  • Charter pilots – flying smaller aircraft for a variety of purposes, for example, tourist flights or land surveying.
  • Agricultural pilots – flying aircraft to apply agricultural chemicals and fertiliser to farm land.

Related jobs

Meet people

Key tasks or responsibilities

First officers check weather forecasts for flights and destination airports, and help the pilot fly the plane.

Meet people

Key tasks or responsibilities

Domestic/trans-Tasman captains check, prepare and pilot aeroplanes (including turboprops) on routes within New Zealand and to Australia.

Meet people

Key tasks or responsibilities

International captains fly jet aircraft, and are responsible for the safety of passengers, crew and cargo on international routes.


 

"The reality for airline pilot jobs, is that you do need to meet certain criteria. There's no point sending in a CV if you only have 200 flying hours on an aero club plane because you won't meet the qualifications the airline requires. You need to discover an airline's hiring criteria, and when you qualify, present yourself as best you can."

Dave Trenberth - Aeroplane pilot

 
Updated September 2009
Previous page - Working conditions
Next page - Job outlook
Return to page navigation menu
 

 

End of page

Return to page navigation