The full-service carrier brightening the skies of Kyushu and Okinawa.
An Solaseed Air captain earns an average of $126K per year, typically $113K–$145K. First officers average $79K ($66K–$88K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
Solaseed Air was founded in 2002 as Skynet Asia Airways and rebranded to Solaseed Air in 2012. Based at Miyazaki Airport and Naha Airport, it operates domestic routes connecting Kyushu and Okinawa with Tokyo (Haneda) and Nagoya. Through codeshare and joint operations with ANA, it secures a stable route network.
As its name — combining 'Sola' (sky) and 'Seed' — suggests, the airline's mission is to deliver the rich nature and culture of Kyushu and Okinawa to the whole of Japan. With the B737-800 as its mainstay aircraft, it maintains high customer satisfaction through warm service and affordable fares.
* 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 |
$113K–$145K |
$126K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$66K–$88K |
$79K | Seniority-based |
All compensation is denominated in Japanese yen (¥) and figures are pre-tax; Japan's standard income tax and social-insurance deductions apply. Performance-linked bonuses are paid 2–3 times per year. Pilots receive southern-route and remote-island allowances plus a Naha base allowance, and Captain duty allowances include a southern-route component. Loss-of-license insurance is provided for both on-duty and off-duty coverage.
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 | $20K–$33K | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | $66K–$76K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $72K–$82K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $78K–$88K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $113K–$128K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $122K–$136K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $131K–$145K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
Solaseed Air's core network centers on its two southern bases. Key routes include Miyazaki–Tokyo (Haneda); Naha–Tokyo (Haneda) and Naha–Nagoya (Chubu); Kumamoto, Nagasaki and Oita to Tokyo (Haneda); and Kagoshima to Tokyo and Osaka, with ANA codeshare flights extending connectivity nationwide. Operationally, crews contend with weather unique to Kyushu and Okinawa (typhoons and seasonal winds), fly the B737-800 efficiently on both domestic trunk and regional routes, support the region's tropical tourism and business demand, and operate flexibly under a two-base (Miyazaki/Naha) structure.
Boeing 737-800 (165 seats) as the mainstay aircraft, operated from two hubs at Miyazaki (KMI) and Naha (OKA), serving a Kyushu/Okinawa-focused southern-Japan network under an ANA codeshare partnership.
Type-rating training on the Boeing 737-800, mastering the latest glass-cockpit, EFIS and FMS operations. Safety is ensured through a training program aligned with ANA standards.
Training to handle the typhoon season, seasonal winds, squalls and other weather conditions unique to Kyushu and Okinawa, with emphasis on southern-region meteorological knowledge and emergency-avoidance procedures.
In line with joint operations with ANA, consistency with ANA's standard operating procedures (SOP) is maintained, embedding ANA-level quality and safety standards into daily operations.
Captain upgrade assessments follow accumulated F/O experience, with recurrent proficiency checks 1–2 times per year. Emphasis is placed on continuous skill improvement and fostering a safety culture.
Discounted Solaseed Air tickets for pilots and their families, with ANA discounts also available on ANA codeshare flights.
Support for postings at the Miyazaki and Naha bases — a work location where you can enjoy rich nature and a southern-island lifestyle.
Enrollment in the health-insurance association, dedicated pilot health-management support, and comprehensive loss-of-license insurance.
A retirement-allowance scheme and corporate pension are provided, with a generous benefit design based on years of service.
Childcare leave and reduced-hours work systems are in place. Male pilots have a track record of taking childcare leave, and family-care leave is also available.
Type-rating training costs are covered by Solaseed Air, alongside a cost-support scheme for continuing education and skill development.
Hiring status: Experienced-hire recruitment — status varies by season; confirm on the official Solaseed Air site (as of March 2026).
Hiring status varies by season. Please confirm on the official Solaseed Air website.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solaseed Air 🇯🇵 | $113K–$145K | $66K–$88K | ~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.
Solaseed Air captain pay averages about $126K per year (range $113K–$145K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Solaseed Air first officer pay averages about $79K per year (range $66K–$88K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Solaseed Air Pilot Recruitment — First Officer (F/O) / Captain — Experienced Hires. Key requirements — Eligibility: Commercial Pilot License (multi-engine & instrument) or Airline Transport Pilot License holder; Base: Miyazaki Airport or Naha Airport; English: Aviation English Proficiency certification, Level 4 or above. Hiring status varies by season. Please confirm on the official Solaseed Air website.
Solaseed Air 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, Solaseed Air captains earn about $11K a month and first officers about $6.5K. 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.
Solaseed Air first officers average $79K and captains $126K — a step of about $47K, or roughly 1.6×. The full range runs $66K to $145K, 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 $79K 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 Japan 26 airlines · captain avg $116K