Ireland's flag carrier and a member of the IAG Group.
An Aer Lingus captain earns an average of $173K per year, typically $135K–$258K. First officers average $107K ($78K–$164K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
Aer Lingus is Ireland's flag carrier, founded in 1936. Using Dublin as its hub, it serves North America (transatlantic routes) and destinations across Europe. It is part of the IAG Group and a member of the Oneworld alliance. Ireland is able to offer preclearance (advance US Customs & Border Protection screening) at Dublin, underpinning a business model specialized in North American routes. The A320 family and the A330 form the backbone of the fleet. Ireland's low corporate-tax environment is another distinctive feature.
* 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 |
$135K–$258K |
$173K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$78K–$164K |
$107K | Seniority-based |
Salaries are denominated in EUR and quoted pre-tax. Progression follows a seniority system. Ireland's income tax reaches a top rate of 40%. Figures are converted at EUR/JPY = 163. Dublin is an English-speaking city where Japanese residents find it relatively easy to settle.
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 | $23K–$39K | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | $78K–$116K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $102K–$140K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $125K–$164K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $135K–$191K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $170K–$223K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $203K–$258K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
From its Dublin hub, Aer Lingus serves North America (New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc.) and destinations across Europe (London, Amsterdam, Paris, etc.).
Airbus A330-200/300, A321neo/LR, A320neo and A319. Around 70 aircraft.
Type rating obtained at an EASA-certified Approved Training Organization (ATO). Ground school → simulator (including MCC) → LIFUS.
After the type rating, Line Flying Under Supervision is conducted with an instructor captain on board — typically around 50–80 legs (in accordance with EASA FCL.060).
Proficiency Checks (PC) once or twice a year, to EASA FCL.625/735 standards, overseen by the relevant national CAA (CAA UK, DGAC, LBA, etc.).
After a period as SFO / Senior F/O, captain training follows. Additional qualifications such as LVP (low-visibility procedures), PBN, ETOPS and RVSM are also obtained.
Heavily discounted or free flights for the employee and their family, usable on alliance partner airlines as well.
High-standard European health insurance. Loss-of-license insurance is also common.
Performance-linked bonus (equivalent to 2–4 months' pay per year), in some cases tied to individual performance appraisals.
25–35 days per year — a generous leave system underpinned by European labor law (EU directives).
A defined-benefit or defined-contribution occupational pension (DBP/DCP). In Europe this sits alongside the state pension in a two-tier structure.
Accommodation and per-diem paid for overseas stays; allowances are higher for high-cost major European cities.
Hiring status: Recruiting on a regular basis — open to holders of an EASA ATPL.
Opportunities for transfer within the IAG Group (British Airways, Iberia, etc.). Dublin's English-speaking environment is easy for Japanese pilots to adjust to.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aer Lingus 🇮🇪 | $135K–$258K | $78K–$164K | 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.
Aer Lingus captain pay averages about $173K per year (range $135K–$258K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Aer Lingus first officer pay averages about $107K per year (range $78K–$164K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain & First Officer (Regular Intake) — International operations. Dublin-based.. Key requirements — License: EASA ATPL (IAA-issued); English: ICAO Level 4 or above (English-native environment); Minimum Flight Hours: 5,000+ hrs for Captain; Type Rating: A330/A321 preferred. Opportunities for transfer within the IAG Group (British Airways, Iberia, etc.). Dublin's English-speaking environment is easy for Japanese pilots to adjust to.
Aer Lingus captains average $173K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, Aer Lingus captains earn about $14K a month and first officers about $8.9K. 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.
Aer Lingus first officers average $107K and captains $173K — a step of about $66K, or roughly 1.6×. The full range runs $78K to $258K, 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 $173K and first officers $107K 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 Ireland 2 airlines · captain avg $157K