Europe's largest ultra-low-cost carrier by passenger numbers, based in Dublin.
An Ryanair captain earns an average of $141K per year, typically $91K–$195K. First officers average $65K ($41K–$92K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
Ryanair is Europe's largest ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) by passenger numbers. Based in Dublin, it runs a vast network connecting 200+ cities across Europe and North Africa. A uniform Boeing 737 MAX/800 fleet and relentless cost control deliver its low fares.
Pilots need an EASA ATPL. Note that some are employed under 'pilot placement' or self-employed (Personal Service Company) contract arrangements rather than direct staff contracts.
* 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 |
$91K–$195K |
$141K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$41K–$92K |
$65K | Seniority-based |
EUR-denominated; verify with each airline's official recruitment information. Some pilots are engaged via a Personal Service Company (self-employed) arrangement rather than direct staff contracts, and type-rating costs may be partly or fully self-funded. Figures are pre-tax, and actual net income varies by base country.
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 | $41K–$64K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $55K–$77K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $69K–$92K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $91K–$138K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $120K–$166K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $148K–$195K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
From Dublin, Stansted and 30+ bases across all of Europe (Spain, Italy, Portugal, Poland, etc.) plus North Africa (Morocco). Short-haul focused.
Boeing 737 MAX 8-200 and 737-800. ~600 aircraft — one of the world's largest single-type fleets.
Uses EASA-certified ATOs. At LCCs, type-rating costs may be partly or fully self-funded depending on contract — confirm terms.
Line training under an instructor captain after type rating. Short-haul-heavy LCC operations let pilots build legs relatively quickly.
1–2 checks per year to EASA standards. LCCs meet the same safety standards as legacy carriers.
FO-to-captain upgrade typically requires 4,000–5,000+ hours. LCCs can offer more frequent upgrade opportunities.
Discounted travel on Ryanair flights (LCC-level discounts).
Sector-linked productivity bonus — more flight hours mean higher earnings.
Choose your base city from 30+ bases across Europe (subject to availability).
EU-directive compliant; specifics vary by base country law.
High-tempo short-haul flying can open earlier paths to command.
All-737 fleet simplifies training and roster flexibility.
Hiring status: Actively hiring — Europe's largest-scale pilot recruitment. EASA ATPL required.
Some contract types (pilot placement / self-employed) require self-funding the type rating. Confirm the employment arrangement carefully before applying.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryanair 🇮🇪 | $91K–$195K | $41K–$92K | 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.
Ryanair captain pay averages about $141K per year (range $91K–$195K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Ryanair first officer pay averages about $65K per year (range $41K–$92K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain & First Officer — Continuous Recruitment — European routes; many bases available.. Key requirements — License: EASA ATPL (mutual recognition possible); English: ICAO Level 4+; Min Hours: FO: 500h+ (CPL held); Captain: 4,000h+; Type: B737 preferred; type cost may be self-funded. Some contract types (pilot placement / self-employed) require self-funding the type rating. Confirm the employment arrangement carefully before applying.
Ryanair captains average $141K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, Ryanair captains earn about $12K a month and first officers about $5.4K. 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.
Ryanair first officers average $65K and captains $141K — a step of about $76K, or roughly 2.2×. The full range runs $41K to $195K, 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 $141K and first officers $65K 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 Ireland 2 airlines · captain avg $157K