A JAL Group airline based in Okinawa, operating primarily on Okinawa routes with the Boeing 737-800.
An Japan Transocean Air (JTA) captain earns an average of $126K per year, typically $113K–$145K. First officers average $82K ($69K–$94K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
Japan Transocean Air (JTA) is a JAL Group airline founded in 1967 as Southwest Air Lines (Nansei Airlines). Based at Naha Airport, it operates routes connecting the main island of Okinawa with major cities on the Japanese mainland and Okinawa's outlying islands.
Operating the Boeing 737-800, it is known as a specialist in Okinawa routes. As a member of the JAL Group, it also belongs to the Oneworld alliance, playing a vital role in supporting Okinawa's tourism demand.
* 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 |
$113K–$145K |
$126K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$69K–$94K |
$82K | Seniority-based |
All published figures are pre-tax estimates. Pilot pay is denominated in Japanese yen (JPY) and is subject to Japanese income tax and social insurance; convert to your home currency when comparing with overseas carriers.
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 | $21K–$35K | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | $69K–$81K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $76K–$87K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $83K–$94K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $113K–$128K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $122K–$136K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $131K–$145K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
JTA's network centers on trunk routes linking Naha with Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and other mainland cities, together with Okinawa inter-island routes (Ishigaki, Miyako, Kumejima and others). It operates numerous codeshare flights with JAL and is responsible for key routes that support Okinawa's tourism demand.
The Boeing 737-800 (166 seats) is the mainstay fleet, configured for domestic trunk operations and specialized in Okinawa routes.
Type-rating training on the Boeing 737-800, following the JAL Group's training framework with ground school, simulator sessions and aircraft IOE (Initial Operating Experience).
Training and quality-management programs aligned with the safety-management system of JAL mainline.
Upgrade to B737-800 Captain after gaining First Officer experience, building trunk-route operating experience between Okinawa and the mainland.
Opportunities for personnel exchange and secondment within the JAL Group, including a path to step up to larger aircraft.
Discounted staff-fare ticket program across the JAL Group companies.
Naha base. Life in Okinawa's warm climate and natural surroundings.
Enrollment in the health insurance association, with support for aviation medical examinations.
Defined-contribution pension plus a lump-sum retirement allowance program.
Coverage for the risk of losing your license in the course of duty.
Partner-airline mileage and privileges through Oneworld membership.
Hiring status: Refer to JAL Group careers page
Please confirm hiring details on the JAL Group careers page and the official JTA website.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan Transocean Air (JTA) 🇯🇵 | $113K–$145K | $69K–$94K | ~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 Transocean Air (JTA) captain pay averages about $126K per year (range $113K–$145K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Japan Transocean Air (JTA) first officer pay averages about $82K per year (range $69K–$94K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain / First Officer (B737-800) — Okinawa routes. Naha-based.. Key requirements — License: B737 type rating (ATPL/CPL + instrument rating); Language: Japanese required; English ICAO Level 4 or above; Application: Via JAL Group careers page. Please confirm hiring details on the JAL Group careers page and the official JTA website.
Japan Transocean Air (JTA) captains average $126K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, Japan Transocean Air (JTA) captains earn about $11K a month and first officers about $6.8K. 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 Transocean Air (JTA) first officers average $82K and captains $126K — a step of about $44K, or roughly 1.5×. The full range runs $69K to $145K, 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 $126K and first officers $82K 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 Japan 26 airlines · captain avg $116K