Star Flyer — a Kitakyushu-based carrier delivering premium quality.
An StarFlyer (Star Flyer) captain earns an average of $123K per year, typically $104K–$138K. First officers average $72K ($57K–$85K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
StarFlyer, founded in 2002 and launched into service in 2006, is a Kitakyushu-based carrier that runs its own distinctive network. Positioning itself as a premium hybrid carrier that is "neither an LCC nor an FSC," it differentiates itself from competitors through high-quality service — all-black leather seats throughout the cabin and generous seat pitch. It operates the Airbus A320-200 and has expanded its route network through partnership and codeshare arrangements with ANA.
Based at Kitakyushu Airport and Fukuoka Airport, it operates domestic routes to Tokyo (Haneda) and Osaka (Kansai), as well as an international Kitakyushu–Seoul (Incheon) service. For pilots, a key strength is being able to gain experience on both domestic and international routes, plus time on the A320 — a type in high demand worldwide.
* 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 |
$104K–$138K |
$123K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$57K–$85K |
$72K | Seniority-based |
Figures are pre-tax and denominated in Japanese yen (use the site's currency switcher to convert). Bonuses are paid two to three times a year and are performance-linked. A separate international-route allowance is added for the Seoul service, and 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 | $19K–$28K | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | $57K–$69K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $65K–$77K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $72K–$85K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $104K–$120K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $113K–$129K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $123K–$138K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
StarFlyer's principal routes connect Kitakyushu and Fukuoka with Tokyo (Haneda) and Kitakyushu with Osaka (Kansai) on the domestic side, plus the international Kitakyushu–Seoul (Incheon) service and connecting routes on ANA codeshare flights. As a premium hybrid carrier it offers pilots a rare environment where they fly both domestic and international sectors; a world-standard A320 cockpit with ECAM operation; pride in high-quality service and strong passenger satisfaction; and flexible operations that make use of the two airports at Kitakyushu and Fukuoka.
Airbus A320-200 — a 150-seat single-aisle narrowbody, the carrier's operated type. Hubs at Kitakyushu (KKJ) and Fukuoka (FUK), covering domestic plus international (Seoul) routes, with ANA partnership codeshare flights.
Type-rating training on the Airbus A320, one of the world's most widely operated aircraft. You master Airbus's advanced systems — fly-by-wire (FBW), ECAM and FMGC. It is a qualification in high demand internationally.
In addition to domestic operations, training covers the Seoul (Incheon) international service. You learn English ATC communication, ICAO international standards, and operating procedures at overseas airports.
In line with the ANA partnership and codeshare, training and operating procedures follow ANA standards, delivering ANA-level safety and quality in day-to-day operations.
Captain upgrade assessment after building First Officer experience. Recurrent proficiency checks held one to two times a year confirm continuous skill improvement. As an independent carrier, it offers a fast-paced upgrade environment.
Discounted StarFlyer tickets for employees and their families. Discounts on ANA partner flights can also be used.
Delivers the high-quality service that makes a "premium journey through the skies" a reality. High praise from passengers fuels pilots' motivation.
Membership in the company health insurance society, with pilot-specific health-management support and loss-of-license insurance included.
Retirement allowance scheme and corporate pension provided, with a generous benefit design scaled to years of service.
Childcare leave and reduced-hours working systems in place, with a track record of male pilots taking childcare leave. Nursing-care leave is also established.
A separate overseas-layover allowance and special international-route allowance are paid for international duties such as the Seoul route.
Hiring status: Hiring availability varies by period — confirm on the official site
Hiring availability varies by period. Please confirm on StarFlyer's official website.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| StarFlyer (Star Flyer) 🇯🇵 | $104K–$138K | $57K–$85K | ~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.
StarFlyer (Star Flyer) captain pay averages about $123K per year (range $104K–$138K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
StarFlyer (Star Flyer) first officer pay averages about $72K per year (range $57K–$85K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
StarFlyer Pilot Recruitment — First Officer (F/O) / Captain — experienced-hire. Key requirements — Eligibility: Holder of a Commercial Pilot License (multi-engine & instrument) or an Airline Transport Pilot License; Base: Kitakyushu Airport or Fukuoka Airport (Fukuoka Prefecture); English: Aviation English Proficiency Certificate Level 4 or above (Level 5 recommended for international operations). Hiring availability varies by period. Please confirm on StarFlyer's official website.
StarFlyer (Star Flyer) captains average $123K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, StarFlyer (Star Flyer) captains earn about $10K a month and first officers about $6K. 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.
StarFlyer (Star Flyer) first officers average $72K and captains $123K — a step of about $50K, or roughly 1.7×. The full range runs $57K to $138K, 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 $123K and first officers $72K 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