Norwegian Air Shuttle — a major European LCC and a pioneer of low-cost long-haul routes.
An Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian) captain earns an average of $126K per year, typically $90K–$170K. First officers average $69K ($45K–$104K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
Norwegian Air Shuttle is Scandinavia's largest LCC, and it has operated across all of Europe as well as North American routes on low-cost fares. After going through a financial restructuring during the COVID crisis of 2020–2021, it downsized and relaunched. It is now redeploying primarily on intra-European routes with the Boeing 737 as its mainstay. Norway has high income tax (up to 47.4%), but pilots benefit from the generous Nordic social welfare system.
* 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 |
$90K–$170K |
$126K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$45K–$104K |
$69K | Seniority-based |
Compensation is denominated in NOK/EUR; yen figures use EUR/JPY = 163 (NOK/JPY conversion included). Norway levies income tax of up to 47.4%. Pay follows a seniority-based system, and terms may have shifted since the 2022 restructuring, so they should be confirmed.
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 | $45K–$72K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $62K–$87K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $77K–$104K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $90K–$126K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $113K–$147K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $134K–$170K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
From its Oslo hub, Norwegian serves all of Europe (Spain, Italy, Greece, and more) as well as North Africa and the Canary Islands. Its long-haul (North American) routes were discontinued during the 2022 restructuring.
Boeing 737 MAX 8 and Boeing 737-800; approximately 80 aircraft.
Conducted at an EASA-approved ATO. At LCCs, some contract arrangements require the pilot to bear part or all of the type-rating cost, so this should be confirmed.
After obtaining the type rating, line training is flown with an instructor captain on board. At an LCC with many short-haul routes, pilots can accumulate legs relatively quickly.
Checks are carried out one to two times per year in accordance with EASA standards. LCCs apply the same safety standards.
An FO-to-Captain upgrade typically requires a minimum of 4,000–5,000+ flight hours as a guideline. LCCs can offer more frequent upgrade opportunities.
Discounted or complimentary travel on the airline's own flights. Often extended to group and partner carriers.
Basic health insurance (in Europe, combined with the EHIC and public healthcare systems).
Duty pay or a productivity bonus, most often linked to flight hours and number of legs.
A minimum of 20 days or more under EU directives, in compliance with each country's laws.
A duty allowance for working at a chosen base city (London, Madrid, and others).
Hiring status: Hiring (post-restructuring). Open to holders of an EASA ATPL.
Following the 2022 restructuring, the airline now operates under a new business model focused on intra-European routes.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian) 🇳🇴 | $90K–$170K | $45K–$104K | 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.
Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian) captain pay averages about $126K per year (range $90K–$170K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian) first officer pay averages about $69K per year (range $45K–$104K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain / First Officer (Regular Recruitment) — European route flying. Primarily Oslo-based.. Key requirements — License: EASA ATPL (Luftfartstilsynet-approved); English: ICAO Level 4 or above; Min. Flight Hours: Captain 4,000h+ (guideline); Type Rating: B737 MAX preferred. Following the 2022 restructuring, the airline now operates under a new business model focused on intra-European routes.
Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian) 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, Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian) captains earn about $11K a month and first officers about $5.8K. 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.
Norwegian Air Shuttle (Norwegian) first officers average $69K and captains $126K — a step of about $57K, or roughly 1.8×. The full range runs $45K 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 $126K and first officers $69K 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 Norway 1 airline · captain avg $126K