Which pays more for pilots, ANA or Emirates?

Emirates pays more. Captain annual salary is $231K at Emirates (tax-free) versus $169K at ANA (pre-tax). On a take-home basis that is $231K at Emirates versus $111K at ANA — a gap of roughly 2.1x. Once housing and education allowances are counted, the effective package at Emirates is about 2.6x ANA's.

Can you move from ANA to Emirates?

Yes. Emirates has a track record of hiring serving ANA and JAL pilots. The requirements are ICAO Level 4 or above English, an ATPL and the necessary flight hours (3,000+ hours for Captain). Note, however, that returning to ANA or JAL after the move is currently very difficult.

Should I choose ANA or Emirates?

If annual salary and take-home pay are the top priority, Emirates. If life with your family, stability in Japan and life after retirement matter more, ANA. There is no universally right answer — it depends on your values, family situation, English ability and risk tolerance. Because coming back to ANA once you have joined Emirates is difficult, the move needs to be weighed carefully as a one-way decision.

ANA vs Emirates Pilot Salary Comparison — Inside the 2x Take-Home Gap [2026 Update]

ANA Captain take-home

1,770万円

Gross 2,700万 → after tax

Take-home gap

approx. 2.1x

approx. 2.6x with housing and education allowances

Emirates Captain take-home

3,700万円

Tax-free — every yen is take-home

How the gap works

Why the same job pays roughly twice as much after tax

It is not simply a difference in headline salary. The combination of tax regime, allowances and cost-of-living support is what produces the overwhelming gap.

Item	ANA Captain (Tokyo)	Emirates Captain (Dubai)	Difference
Annual salary (gross)	¥2,700万	¥3,700万	+¥1,000万
Income tax	▲¥530万	¥0 (tax-free)	+¥530万
Residence tax	▲¥250万	¥0	+¥250万
Social insurance	▲¥150万	¥0 (partial only)	+¥150万
Housing (per year)	Out of pocket, approx. ¥240万+	Company-paid, worth approx. ¥600万	+¥840万 or more
Children's education (per child)	Out of pocket	Company-paid, worth approx. ¥300万	+¥300万 or more
Effective take-home package	approx. ¥1,770万	approx. ¥4,600万–¥5,200万	approx. 2.6–2.9x

The power of tax-free: To net the same take-home (¥3,700万) at ANA you would need a gross of roughly ¥6,000万. The structural advantage at Emirates — every yen is take-home — creates a gap far wider than the headline salary alone suggests.

Full comparison

ANA vs Emirates — full comparison table

Category	ANA	Emirates (EK)	Advantage
Captain annual salary (gross)	¥2,700万	¥3,700万	EK +¥1,000万
Captain take-home	approx. ¥1,770万	approx. ¥3,700万	EK approx. 2.1x
Effective package	approx. ¥1,770万	approx. ¥4,600万–5,200万	EK approx. 2.6x
Income tax	Up to 45%	0% (tax-free)	EK clear win
Years to Captain upgrade	15–18 years	5–8 years (joining as F/O)	EK is faster
Paid leave	20+ days per year	42 days per year + home-leave tickets	EK advantage
Distance from family	Based in Japan (close)	Dubai (far)	ANA advantage
Job security	High (major Japanese carrier)	Exposed to performance-linked risk	ANA advantage
Able to work in Japanese	Yes	English only	ANA advantage
Life after retirement	Secure in Japan (pension and severance)	Must be arranged separately	ANA advantage
Returning to ANA or JAL	Not applicable (already employed)	Difficult (no mid-career hiring)	ANA advantage
Route diversity	90+ countries	150+ cities	EK advantage

Decision criteria

What separates the pilots who move to Emirates from those who don't

Profile of pilots who choose Emirates

✦Maximizing take-home income is the number-one priority
✦Fluent in English and comfortable in a foreign-carrier environment
✦Able to bring the family (or single, or fine with an unaccompanied posting)
✦Wants an environment where career progression is faster than in Japan
✦Decides to move while still an ANA First Officer (annual salary 1,400–1,800万)
✦Wants route experience across 150 cities worldwide

Profile of pilots who stay at ANA

✦Values staying close to family and parents
✦Prioritizes stability over the long road to Captain (15–18 years)
✦Values the reassurance of Japan's pension and social insurance system
✦Job security matters most — unwilling to take on business-performance risk
✦Plans to live in Japan after retirement
✦Prefers life in a Japanese-language environment and Japanese culture

Important: a move to Emirates is a one-way decision

ANA and JAL currently do not run mid-career hiring for serving pilots. If you move to Emirates, you need to make the decision on the assumption that, as a rule, there is no way back. A take-home gap of roughly 2x is compelling, but the call has to be made on the whole picture — family, retirement and your long-term life plan in Japan.

FAQ

ANA vs Emirates — frequently asked questions

How large is the take-home gap between ANA and Emirates?+

An ANA Captain (annual salary 2,700万円) takes home roughly 1,770万円. An Emirates Captain (annual salary 3,700万円, tax-free) keeps the full 3,700万円. That is a gap of about 1,930万円, and once housing and education allowances are included the effective package at Emirates works out at roughly 2.6x ANA's.

Can an ANA pilot move to Emirates?+

Yes. The requirements are ICAO Level 4 or above English, a current ATPL and the necessary flight hours (3,000+ hours for Captain). There is a substantial track record of Japanese pilots being hired. Applications usually go through a recruitment agency such as CAE or Parc Aviation.

Can you move to Emirates and later return to ANA?+

At present it is extremely difficult. Neither ANA nor JAL publicly runs mid-career hiring for serving pilots (CPL/ATPL holders). Treat a move to Emirates as a one-way decision and weigh it against your total life plan.

What would an ANA First Officer (annual salary 1,800万円) earn after moving to Emirates?+

An ANA First Officer joining Emirates as an F/O can expect roughly 2,800万円 (tax-free) as a guide. Against an ANA First Officer's take-home of about 1,230万円, the entire 2,800万円 at Emirates is take-home — an increase of roughly 2.3x in what actually lands in your account.

Will an Emirates pilot's retirement pension be secure?+

Japanese employees' pension contributions stop while you are posted overseas (voluntary enrollment in the National Pension remains possible). You need a plan to channel the higher earnings you make at Emirates into investment and wealth-building, accumulating your own retirement assets. Putting that high income to work through vehicles such as iDeCo (Japan's individual defined-contribution pension) and overseas investments becomes essential.

ANA

ANA pilot salary — full detail

Take-home, pay by aircraft type and time to upgrade, explained in depth

View details →

Emirates pilot salary — full detail

How the tax-free structure works and what life in Dubai is really like