Austria's flag carrier, part of the Lufthansa Group.
An Austrian Airlines captain earns an average of $164K per year, typically $126K–$208K. First officers average $98K ($78K–$129K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
Austrian Airlines is Austria's flag carrier, hubbed at Vienna. A member of the Lufthansa Group and part of the Star Alliance, it offers particularly strong access to Central and Eastern Europe, with Vienna serving as a key hub connecting Europe with the countries of the former Eastern Bloc. Its operations are diverse, ranging from long-haul routes flown by the B777 and B787 to intra-European routes flown by the A320/A321.
* 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 |
$126K–$208K |
$164K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$78K–$129K |
$98K | Seniority-based |
Salaries are denominated in EUR and quoted pre-tax, with pay following a seniority-based structure. Austria's income tax reaches up to 55%, among the highest in Europe. JPY figures on the site are converted at an EUR/JPY rate of 163.
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–$101K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $92K–$115K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $106K–$129K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $126K–$163K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $148K–$185K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $171K–$208K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
From its Vienna hub, the airline serves Central and Eastern Europe (Prague, Warsaw, Budapest, etc.), North America (New York, Washington, Los Angeles, etc.), Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
Boeing 777-200ER, B787-9, Airbus A321neo, A321ceo, A320neo. Around 75 aircraft.
Type rating training is completed at an EASA-certified Approved Training Organization (ATO). Ground school → simulator (including MCC) → LIFUS.
After obtaining the type rating, pilots conduct Line Flying Under Supervision alongside an instructor captain — typically around 50–80 legs (per EASA FCL.060).
Proficiency Checks (PC) are conducted once or twice a year to EASA FCL.625/735 standards, overseen by the relevant national CAAs (CAA UK, DGAC, LBA, etc.).
After a period as SFO/Senior F/O, pilots undergo captain training. 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, also usable on alliance partner carriers.
High-standard European medical insurance. Loss-of-license insurance is also common.
Performance-linked bonus (equivalent to 2–4 months' pay per year), in some cases tied to performance evaluations.
25–35 days per year — a generous leave system under European labor law (EU directives).
Defined-benefit or defined-contribution corporate pension (DBP/DCP). In Europe this sits alongside the state pension in a two-tier structure.
Accommodation and per-diem provided for overseas stays; major European cities attract higher high-cost-area allowances.
Hiring status: Hiring via the Lufthansa Group; open to holders of an EASA ATPL.
Austria offers a culturally accessible environment for Japanese pilots considering working and living within the EU.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austrian Airlines 🇦🇹 | $126K–$208K | $78K–$129K | 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.
Austrian Airlines captain pay averages about $164K per year (range $126K–$208K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Austrian Airlines first officer pay averages about $98K per year (range $78K–$129K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain / First Officer (Regular Recruitment) — International operations. Vienna-based.. Key requirements — License: EASA ATPL (Austro Control approved); English: ICAO Level 4 or higher; Minimum Flight Hours: Captain 5,000h+; German: Conversational level recommended. Austria offers a culturally accessible environment for Japanese pilots considering working and living within the EU.
Austrian Airlines captains average $164K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, Austrian Airlines captains earn about $14K a month and first officers about $8.1K. 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.
Austrian Airlines first officers average $98K and captains $164K — a step of about $66K, or roughly 1.7×. The full range runs $78K to $208K, 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 $164K and first officers $98K 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 Austria 1 airline · captain avg $164K