LATAM Airlines — South America's largest airline group, integrating operations across six countries.
An LATAM Airlines captain earns an average of $120K per year, typically $75K–$170K. First officers average $60K ($35K–$94K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
LATAM Airlines is South America's largest airline group, created by the 2012 merger of LAN (Chile) and TAM (Brazil). It holds regional operating companies in Chile, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Paraguay, and serves destinations within South America as well as Europe, North America and Oceania. The group filed for protection under U.S. federal bankruptcy law in 2020 and completed its restructuring in 2022. The A320 family, together with the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350, forms the backbone of the fleet.
* 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 |
$75K–$170K |
$120K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$35K–$94K |
$60K | Seniority-based |
Figures are converted at USD/JPY = 150. Foreign captains are generally paid in USD, while First Officers are typically paid in BRL or CLP, so the currency of payment and the applicable tax rate differ according to nationality and country of base. Terms reflect the conditions in place following the 2022 completion of restructuring.
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 | $35K–$62K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $52K–$77K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $67K–$94K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $75K–$118K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $102K–$143K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $128K–$170K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
From the Santiago and São Paulo hubs, LATAM serves the whole of South America as well as North America (Miami, New York and others), Europe (Madrid, London, Frankfurt and others) and Oceania (Sydney).
Boeing 787-8/9, Airbus A350-900, A321neo, A320neo and A319. Approximately 310 aircraft.
Type rating training is conducted at training centers certified by the relevant national civil aviation authority (ANAC, Aerocivil, DGAC and others) or compliant with FAA/EASA standards.
After the type rating is obtained, line training is flown under the supervision of an instructor captain.
A Proficiency Check is carried out once or twice a year, in accordance with each country's regulations.
Seniority-based progression is the norm. Flight hour requirements depend on the individual operating company and the applicable national regulations.
Discounted travel privileges for the employee and family members, also usable on alliance partner airlines.
Medical insurance for the employee and family, combined with each country's public healthcare system.
Performance-linked bonus, paid once or twice a year.
15 to 25 days per year, in line with each country's labor law.
Hiring status: Hiring (following restructuring). Proven track record of hiring foreign pilots.
Note: Portuguese is used in Brazil and Spanish in Chile. A work permit must be obtained in accordance with each country's regulations.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| LATAM Airlines 🇧🇷 | $75K–$170K | $35K–$94K | 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.
LATAM Airlines captain pay averages about $120K per year (range $75K–$170K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
LATAM Airlines first officer pay averages about $60K per year (range $35K–$94K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain / First Officer (Now Hiring) — International operations. Santiago / São Paulo based.. Key requirements — License: ATPL (ICAO-compliant, certified by the relevant national authority); English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Minimum Flight Hours: Captain: 5,000 hours or more (guideline); Spanish: Recommended (for the Chilean / Colombian operations). Note: Portuguese is used in Brazil and Spanish in Chile. A work permit must be obtained in accordance with each country's regulations.
LATAM Airlines captains average $120K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, LATAM Airlines captains earn about $9.9K a month and first officers about $5K. 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.
LATAM Airlines first officers average $60K and captains $120K — a step of about $60K, or roughly 2.0×. The full range runs $35K to $170K, 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 $120K and first officers $60K 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 Chile 1 airline · captain avg $120K