Aegean Airlines — Greece's largest airline · Star Alliance member
An Aegean Airlines captain earns an average of $82K per year, typically $65K–$98K. First officers average $42K ($30K–$49K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
Aegean Airlines is Greece's largest airline, operating from its Athens hub across the Mediterranean, all of Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. It is a Star Alliance member. Relative to the size of the Greek economy, it maintains an unusually extensive network, with demand peaking sharply during the summer tourist season. The fleet is built around the A320 family and operations follow EASA standards. Income tax is Greek (up to 44%).
* Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks. Verify actual compensation with each airline's official recruitment information.
| Position | Salary Range | Avg / Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain International widebody |
$65K–$98K |
$82K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$30K–$49K |
$42K | Seniority-based |
Pay is denominated in euros and set on a seniority system, quoted pre-tax. Figures are converted at EUR/JPY = 163. Greek income tax reaches a maximum of 44%. The cost of living in Athens is relatively low compared with Western Europe.
Modeled from the captain / first-officer ranges above, sliced into standard career stages. Bands marked est. are derived from those ranges (not official); verified bands come from active-pilot data. Management pay is crowd-sourced from verified pilots.
| Career Stage | Years | Annual (pre-tax) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadet / Trainee | ≤2 yrs | $19K–$28K | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | $30K–$39K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $35K–$44K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $41K–$49K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $65K–$79K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $74K–$88K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $83K–$98K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
From its Athens hub, Aegean serves all of Europe (London, Paris, Frankfurt, and more), the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Middle East. It also operates numerous domestic routes to the Greek islands.
Airbus A321neo, A320neo, A320ceo, and A319. Around 70 aircraft.
Training is conducted at an EASA-approved ATO. At LCCs, some contract structures require the pilot to bear part or all of the type-rating cost — confirm the terms.
After obtaining the type rating, line training is flown with an instructor captain on board. At LCCs with many short-haul routes, pilots can build up their leg count relatively quickly.
Checks are held once or twice a year based on EASA standards. LCCs apply the same safety standards.
FO-to-Captain upgrade typically requires a minimum of 4,000-5,000 flight hours or more. LCCs can offer more frequent upgrade opportunities.
Discounted or free travel on the airline's own flights. Often extends to group and partner carriers.
Basic medical insurance (in Europe, combined with the EHIC / public health-care systems).
Duty pay or a productivity bonus, usually tied to flight hours and number of legs.
A minimum of 20 days or more under the EU directive, in accordance with each country's law.
An allowance for working at a chosen base city (London, Madrid, etc.).
Hiring status: Recruiting on a regular basis. Open to holders of an EASA ATPL.
Recruitment activity tends to intensify during Greece's summer peak (April-October).
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aegean Airlines 🇬🇷 | $65K–$98K | $30K–$49K | Income tax applies |
| ANA 🇯🇵 | $138K–$220K | $88K–$132K | ~33% (Japan) |
| JAL 🇯🇵 | $138K–$220K | $88K–$132K | ~33% (Japan) |
* Salary figures are SSOT reference values (pre-tax unless marked tax-free). ANA / JAL shown as the Japan baseline — ~33% income tax applies in Japan, so after-tax take-home is lower than the headline. Tax-free carriers pay 100% take-home. Verify exact figures with each airline.
Aegean Airlines captain pay averages about $82K per year (range $65K–$98K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Aegean Airlines first officer pay averages about $42K per year (range $30K–$49K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain / First Officer (regular recruitment) — European routes. Athens-based.. Key requirements — License: EASA ATPL (HCAA-issued); English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Min. Flight Hours: Captain 4,000h+ (guideline); Type Rating: A320 family preferred. Recruitment activity tends to intensify during Greece's summer peak (April-October).
Aegean Airlines captains average $82K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, Aegean Airlines captains earn about $6.8K a month and first officers about $3.5K. What actually lands each month moves with block hours flown, and where an annual bonus is paid the regular monthly figure sits lower with a spike in the bonus month.
Aegean Airlines first officers average $42K and captains $82K — a step of about $40K, or roughly 2.0×. The full range runs $30K to $98K, and where you sit inside it is set by seniority, type rating and the routes you fly. The seniority table on this page breaks the same range into career stages.
Every figure on this page is gross, before income tax. Captains average $82K and first officers $42K pre-tax, and income tax, social insurance and any local levies come out of that. Take-home depends on where you are resident and on your own deductions, so no single percentage applies. Airlines based in countries with no personal income tax — the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia — leave more of the same gross figure in your hand.
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Pilot salary in Greece 1 airline · captain avg $82K