A Kagoshima-based regional carrier in the JAL Group, connecting Amami and the Nansei (Southwest) Islands with ATR aircraft.
An Japan Air Commuter (JAC) captain earns an average of $107K per year, typically $94K–$120K. First officers average $63K ($53K–$75K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
Japan Air Commuter (JAC) is a regional airline within the JAL Group, established in 1983. Based at Kagoshima Airport, it operates primarily commuter routes that link the various remote islands of the Amami Islands and the Nansei (Southwest) Islands.
It operates ATR 42-600 and ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft. Able to handle short runways, it is one of the few airlines that can access the small-scale airports of these remote islands, offering the diverse operating environment distinctive to propeller-driven aircraft.
* 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 |
$94K–$120K |
$107K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$53K–$75K |
$63K | Seniority-based |
Figures for this carrier are estimates and are shown pre-tax; Japanese income tax applies. Compensation includes flight (duty) allowances and a remote-island duty allowance for Amami and Nansei Islands routes. Amounts are in Japanese yen (¥) and can be converted to other currencies.
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 | $53K–$64K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $60K–$69K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $65K–$75K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $94K–$106K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $101K–$113K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $108K–$120K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
JAC's network centers on remote-island commuter services: Kagoshima ↔ Amami Ōshima, Kikaijima, Tokunoshima and other islands, plus commuter routes across the Nansei (Southwest) Islands and its remote islands. The airline has an extensive record of serving short-runway, small-scale airports, and extends its reach into a wide-area network through codeshare flights with JAL.
ATR 42-600 (50 seats, configured for remote-island service) and ATR 72-600 (70 seats, for trunk routes).
Type-rating training on the ATR 42/72 turboprop aircraft — a specialized program tailored to the characteristics of propeller-driven aircraft.
Landing training for short runways and small-scale airports, building the advanced judgment required for remote-island operations where weather can change dramatically.
Upgrade to captain after gaining experience as an ATR first officer; the diverse experience of flying remote-island routes is highly valued.
Participation in the JAL Group's common safety training and resource-management (CRM) training.
Discounted staff-travel ticket program across the JAL Group companies.
Various allowances when assigned to Amami and Nansei Islands routes.
Enrollment in the health insurance association, with support for aviation medical examinations.
Defined-contribution pension plus a lump-sum retirement allowance.
Coverage for the risk of losing your license in the course of duty.
A posting based in Kagoshima, amid the nature-rich environment of southern Kyushu and the Nansei Islands.
Hiring status: Refer to JAL Group careers page
Please confirm hiring information on the JAL Group careers page and the official JAC website.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan Air Commuter (JAC) 🇯🇵 | $94K–$120K | $53K–$75K | ~33% (Japan) |
| 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.
Japan Air Commuter (JAC) captain pay averages about $107K per year (range $94K–$120K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Japan Air Commuter (JAC) first officer pay averages about $63K per year (range $53K–$75K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain / First Officer (ATR 42/72) — Amami and Nansei Islands routes. Kagoshima-based posting.. Key requirements — License: ATR type rating, or CPL + instrument rating; Language: Japanese required. English ICAO Level 4 or above.; Application: Via the JAL Group careers page. Please confirm hiring information on the JAL Group careers page and the official JAC website.
Japan Air Commuter (JAC) captains average $107K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, Japan Air Commuter (JAC) captains earn about $8.9K a month and first officers about $5.2K. 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.
Japan Air Commuter (JAC) first officers average $63K and captains $107K — a step of about $44K, or roughly 1.7×. The full range runs $53K to $120K, 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 $107K and first officers $63K 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.
Compare by country
Pilot salary in Japan 26 airlines · captain avg $116K