LOT Polish Airlines — Poland's state-owned flag carrier · Star Alliance member
An LOT Polish Airlines captain earns an average of $88K per year, typically $72K–$104K. First officers average $46K ($37K–$54K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
LOT Polish Airlines is Poland's state-owned flag carrier, founded in 1929. From its Warsaw hub it operates services across Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East, and is a member of Star Alliance. Poland has a relatively low cost of living within the EU, and pilot packages are commonly contracted in euros (EUR). The airline deploys the Boeing 787 as its primary long-haul aircraft, while the B737 and Dash 8 cover intra-European and domestic routes.
* 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 |
$72K–$104K |
$88K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$37K–$54K |
$46K | Seniority-based |
Pilot compensation is contracted and quoted in euros (EUR), pre-tax, under a seniority-based structure. Poland's income tax tops out at 32%, which is low by European standards, and Warsaw's cost of living is lower than in major EU cities — giving euro-denominated income high real purchasing power. Yen equivalents on this site assume a 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 | $19K–$28K | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | $37K–$45K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $42K–$49K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $47K–$54K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $72K–$87K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $81K–$95K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $90K–$104K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
From its Warsaw hub, LOT serves North America (New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc.), Asia (Tokyo, Seoul, Beijing, etc.), all of Europe, the Middle East, and domestic routes.
Boeing 787-8/9, B737 MAX 8, B737-800, Embraer E170/175/195. Approximately 80 aircraft.
Type rating is obtained at an EASA-certified Approved Training Organization (ATO). The path runs from ground school → simulator (including MCC) → LIFUS.
After the type rating, pilots fly Line Flying Under Supervision with an instructor captain aboard — typically around 50-80 legs (per EASA FCL.060).
Proficiency Checks (PC) are conducted one to two times per year, based on EASA FCL.625/735 standards and overseen by the relevant national CAAs (CAA UK, DGAC, LBA, etc.).
After a period as an 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 tickets for pilots and their families, also usable on alliance partner airlines.
High-standard European medical insurance. Loss-of-license insurance is also common.
Performance-linked bonuses (equivalent to 2-4 months per year), in some cases tied to individual performance reviews.
25-35 days per year — a generous leave system under European labor law (EU directives).
Defined-benefit or defined-contribution corporate pension plans (DBP/DCP), layered on top of the state pension in the typical European dual structure.
Accommodation and per diem paid for overseas stays, with higher high-cost-area allowances for major European cities.
Hiring status: Actively recruiting on an ongoing basis. Open to EASA ATPL holders; B787 type rating holders preferred.
Warsaw has a low cost of living for Europe, giving euro-denominated income high real purchasing power.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| LOT Polish Airlines 🇵🇱 | $72K–$104K | $37K–$54K | 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.
LOT Polish Airlines captain pay averages about $88K per year (range $72K–$104K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
LOT Polish Airlines first officer pay averages about $46K per year (range $37K–$54K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain / First Officer (Ongoing Recruitment) — International operations. Warsaw-based.. Key requirements — License: EASA ATPL (ULC-certified); English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Min. Flight Hours: Captain: 5,000h+; Type Rating: B787/B737 preferred. Warsaw has a low cost of living for Europe, giving euro-denominated income high real purchasing power.
LOT Polish Airlines captains average $88K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, LOT Polish Airlines captains earn about $7.4K a month and first officers about $3.8K. 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.
LOT Polish Airlines first officers average $46K and captains $88K — a step of about $42K, or roughly 1.9×. The full range runs $37K to $104K, 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 $88K and first officers $46K 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 Poland 1 airline · captain avg $88K