Ethiopian Airlines — Africa's largest airline and a Star Alliance member.
An Ethiopian Airlines captain earns an average of $101K per year, typically $82K–$123K. First officers average $55K ($44K–$69K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
Ethiopian Airlines is the largest airline in Africa. From its hub in Addis Ababa it serves more than 130 cities worldwide, and its intra-Africa network is also one of the largest on the continent. The carrier is a member of Star Alliance. Through its own Aviation Academy it trains large numbers of pilots and engineers, so a high proportion of its pilots and engineers are trained in-house. Foreign pilots are employed under special USD-denominated contracts. The airline operates a large fleet of latest-generation aircraft including the B787, B777 and B737 MAX.
* 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 |
$82K–$123K |
$101K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$44K–$69K |
$55K | Seniority-based |
JPY equivalents are converted at USD/JPY = 150. Foreign pilots are normally engaged on USD-denominated contracts paid as a monthly salary, with housing allowance, medical insurance and home-leave air tickets provided separately. The cost of living in Ethiopia is low, so real purchasing power is comparatively high.
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 | $44K–$55K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $51K–$62K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $58K–$69K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $82K–$100K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $93K–$111K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $104K–$123K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
From the Addis Ababa hub the airline serves Europe (London, Frankfurt, Paris and others), North America (New York, Washington, Houston and others), Asia (Beijing, Tokyo, Shanghai and others) and destinations right across Africa (more than 60 cities).
Boeing 787-8/9, B777-200LR/F, B737 MAX 8/9, Airbus A350-900. Approximately 140 aircraft.
Type rating training is conducted at facilities approved by the relevant national civil aviation authorities (ECAA / SACAA / KCAA, etc.) or at OEM training centers.
Line training is carried out after the type rating is obtained. Ethiopian Airlines operates its own in-house training center (the Aviation Academy).
OPC/LPC once or twice a year, in accordance with ICAO Annex 1/6.
At Ethiopian Airlines, in-house cadet training is the main pipeline. Carriers such as those in Kenya and South Africa have a track record of hiring foreign Captains directly.
Discounted or free air tickets for the pilot and family. Tickets can also be used on partner carriers, including Star Alliance members (Ethiopia).
Medical insurance for the pilot and family. Coverage in Ethiopia and South Africa is relatively comprehensive.
Housing allowance and cost-of-living support for foreign pilots. USD-denominated contracts are common.
20–30 days per year, inclusive of recovery leave for crew flying long-haul routes.
Hiring status: Foreign Captains and First Officers have been hired. Holders of B787/B777/A350 type ratings are given preference.
Type rating training can be completed at the Aviation Academy. Foreign hires work alongside the airline's own cadet-trained pilots.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethiopian Airlines 🇪🇹 | $82K–$123K | $44K–$69K | 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.
Ethiopian Airlines captain pay averages about $101K per year (range $82K–$123K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Ethiopian Airlines first officer pay averages about $55K per year (range $44K–$69K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain / First Officer (Foreign Pilot Recruitment) — International operations. Addis Ababa base.. Key requirements — License: ATPL (ICAO-compliant); English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Minimum Flight Hours: Captain 5,000h+; Contract: Fixed-term contract (2–3 years), USD-denominated. Type rating training can be completed at the Aviation Academy. Foreign hires work alongside the airline's own cadet-trained pilots.
Ethiopian Airlines captains average $101K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, Ethiopian Airlines captains earn about $8.4K a month and first officers about $4.6K. 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.
Ethiopian Airlines first officers average $55K and captains $101K — a step of about $45K, or roughly 1.8×. The full range runs $44K to $123K, 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 $101K and first officers $55K 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 Ethiopia 1 airline · captain avg $101K