A specialist pilot placement agency dedicated to airlines across the Asia region.
An Root Aviation captain earns an average of $82K per year, typically $63K–$113K. First officers average $45K ($31K–$63K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
Root Aviation is a specialist agency that supports pilot recruitment for airlines across the Asia region. Rather than employing pilots directly, it performs position matching through an agency model. The current opening is a Boeing 777 Captain (PIC) upgrade position, placing pilots with B747 experience into a specific airline in the Asia region. Detailed information on destinations and employment conditions must be obtained by contacting Root Aviation directly.
* 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 |
$63K–$113K |
$82K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$31K–$63K |
$45K | Seniority-based |
This is an agency-brokered position, so the annual salary is set by the terms of the individual client airline. No pay figures are published for this opening — candidates must contact Root Aviation directly for details.
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 | $31K–$46K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $40K–$54K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $49K–$63K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $63K–$86K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $77K–$99K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $91K–$113K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
Asia region (varies by client airline).
Boeing 777 (the upgrade type). Priority given to candidates with B747 experience.
Upgrade training from the B747 to the B777, conducted at the client airline's training center.
Line flying training following the type rating, carried out according to the employing airline's regulations.
Flying opportunities across the Asia region. The package varies depending on the airline's circumstances.
Job-search support and negotiation handled on your behalf by Root Aviation.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root Aviation | $63K–$113K | $31K–$63K | ~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.
Root Aviation captain pay averages about $82K per year (range $63K–$113K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Root Aviation first officer pay averages about $45K per year (range $31K–$63K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
B777 PIC Upgrade Position — For pilots with B747 experience. Key requirements — Eligibility: Captains with B747-400 / B747-800 experience; Position: Upgrade to B777 Captain (PIC); Region: Asia (details undisclosed). For details, apply via Latest Pilot Jobs or contact Root Aviation directly.
Root Aviation captains average $82K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, Root Aviation captains earn about $6.8K 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.
Root Aviation first officers average $45K and captains $82K — a step of about $36K, or roughly 1.8×. The full range runs $31K to $113K, 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 $82K and first officers $45K 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.