How Much Do Commercial Pilots Earn? Salary Breakdown for 2025
A commercial pilot is rewarded both financially and professionally, which makes it a highly rewarding career if you want to pursue a career in aviation. Your experience, airline, and career progression are the factors that would decide your salary at large, but you will be glad to know that pilots in India earn quite a handsome sum, and it is a competitive pay that increases as your experience and position grow. Therefore, with proper training, you can increase your earnings to the maximum and secure a high-paying job position in aviation. Now, this is where we can help you. At 70 Knots Aviation, we provide you with top-notch pilot training to help you achieve your goal. Let us now break down what salary expectations you can keep if you become a commercial pilot
Commercial Pilot Salaries in India: Entry-Level vs. Experienced
Commercial pilot wages in India depend substantially on the level of experience you have, along with the position you hold, and the airline you work for. The proper understanding of these distinctions can help you progress better in your career.
Entry-Level Pilots (First Officers)
If you are a brand-new pilot and have just acquired your entry-level job by becoming a First Officer. Then, you need to know that being a commercial pilot at this level brings you a monthly earning ranging from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹3.5 lakh. Both Air India and IndiGo begin paying new pilots ₹1.67 lakh and ₹1.5 lakh per month, respectively.
Mid-Level Pilots (Senior First Officers)
After you gain 3 and 5 years of experience, you qualify for a Senior First Officer position. Salaries in this bracket range from ₹3 lakh to ₹6.5 lakh per month. Pilots who work for 5-10 years have their salaries ranging from ₹35 lakh to ₹50 lakh annually.
Experienced Pilots (Captains)
A pilot needs to gain substantial flight experience before becoming eligible and getting promoted to the Captain position. As a captain, your earnings would range between ₹6 lakh and ₹12 lakh per month, if you possess more than 10 years of experience. Senior captains at Air India receive a monthly salary of up to ₹10.56 lakh, which can be said to be one of the highest.
Salary Progression Based on Experience
| Experience Level | Monthly Salary Range | Annual Salary Range |
| 0-2 years | ₹1.5L – ₹3.5L | ₹18L – ₹42L |
| 3-5 years | ₹3L – ₹6.5L | ₹36L – ₹78L |
| 5-10 years | ₹3.8L – ₹4.2L | ₹46L |
| 10+ years | ₹6L – ₹12L | ₹72L – ₹1.44Cr |
The payment amounts differ depending on aircraft types and your individual performance, together with the selected airline. The comprehensive training at 70 Knots Aviation enables you to reach each aviation career level and boost your overall professional income in the industry.
Additional Earnings and Benefits
Indian commercial pilots gain extra benefits, together with their basic wages, to improve their total earnings package and increase their overall compensation.
Allowances and Bonuses
Airline companies provide you with housing allowance benefits along with medical insurance and flight tickets free of charge for your family members, depending on flight seat availability. You can also access layover allowances, which keep on increasing for international flight layovers.
Career Advancement Opportunities
If you have gathered enough experience, there are opportunities for you to earn better after you are promoted to senior roles such as instructor or pilot-in-command, which bring both professional advancement and better remuneration, making your career even more rewarding.
Per Diem and Overtime Pay
In addition, you can receive per diem allowances for lodging, meals, and other costs during both domestic and international layovers. These allowances are determined by the airlines and the length of the flight. If you fly after your usual flying hours, you are also paid overtime, and long-haul flights and extra shifts can be quite profitable as well. This boosts your overall earnings and gives you profit as well.
Career Progression, Tenure and Salary Growth
Climbing the pilot career ladder in India follows a specific order that gives you an increase in progress and advances your responsibilities while increasing your salary. Analyzing the career path structure helps you develop proper planning strategies for enduring success in the aviation sector.
Junior First Officer (JFO)
The starting point of your flying career begins when you become a Junior First Officer, through which you need to undergo airline operational training followed by familiarization sessions. The stipend amount for Junior First Officer training during this period spans from ₹75,000 to ₹1,10,000 per month for up to 6 to 8 months of training.
First Officer (FO)
The JFO phase completes successfully before becoming a First Officer. Your salary as a First Officer at an Indian airline will fall within ₹1,50,000 to ₹3,50,000 monthly based on the specific airline and your total flight hours.
Senior First Officer (SFO)
With an increase in flight hours experience, it will get you promoted from First Officer to Senior First Officer. You can expect a range between ₹6,00,000 to ₹12,00,000 as a First Officer in India.
Captain
The achievement of the Captain rank demands approximately 5 to 10 years of flight experience totaling 1,500 hours until reaching this prestigious position. Airplane captains working in India can obtain a monthly salary ranging between ₹6,00,000 and ₹12,00,000.
Advanced Roles
The next stages of airline career advancement lead to advanced positions of Line Training Captain (LTC), Type Rating Instructor (TRI), and Designated Examiner (DE), where earnings reach between ₹6,50,000 to ₹12,00,000 per month.
At 70 Knots Aviation, we dedicate ourselves to providing you with thorough flight training and professional support that guarantees your success in aviation industry career development and ensures that you achieve your goals in the industry.
Conclusion
Your journey as a commercial pilot provides you with exclusive chances to earn high pay and shows sustained professional advancement opportunities. Your earnings, along with your benefits, will increase after you gain relevant work experience. Your readiness to begin aviation training signals your start in the aviation field. Your dream pilot career begins with the right training. Come join us at 70 Knots Aviation to get the expert training you deserve to become a successful pilot in India.
