Istanbul-based Star Alliance flag carrier that flies to more countries than any other airline in the world.
An Turkish Airlines captain earns an average of $157K per year, typically $126K–$189K. First officers average $88K ($72K–$113K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
Turkish Airlines serves over 130 countries and 340-plus cities, and is known as the airline flying to more countries than any other. From its hub at Istanbul Airport (IST) it spans Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, and it is a Star Alliance member.
Turkey levies income tax (up to 40%), though foreign pilots are sometimes offered USD-denominated special contracts. The fleet ranges from widebodies such as the B787, A330/A350 and B777 down to narrowbodies for domestic routes — about 440 aircraft in total.
* 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 |
$126K–$189K |
$157K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$72K–$113K |
$88K | Seniority-based |
Converted at USD/JPY≈150. Figures are pre-tax; Turkey's income tax (up to 40%) applies, though foreign pilots are sometimes offered USD-denominated special contracts. Based on public data (Glassdoor etc., 2025).
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 | $22K–$36K | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | $72K–$91K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $84K–$102K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $95K–$113K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $126K–$154K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $143K–$171K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $160K–$189K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
From its Istanbul hub, THY flies across all of Europe, North America (New York, Chicago), Asia (Japan, China, Thailand), Africa (50+ cities) and the Middle East — the world's largest country network.
Boeing 787-9, B777-300ER, B737 MAX 8/9, Airbus A350-900, A330-200/300, A321neo, A320neo. About 440 aircraft.
Type rating obtained at an EASA or national authority-approved ATO. Ground school → simulator → LIFUS.
After type rating, Line Flying Under Supervision alongside a training captain — typically around 50–80 sectors.
Proficiency checks once or twice a year, supervised to ICAO standards by the relevant authority.
Seniority or merit based. Flight hours and internal assessment carry weight; foreign captains are frequently hired.
Heavily discounted tickets for you and family, usable on Star Alliance partners too.
Comprehensive medical cover for pilot and family.
Results-linked bonus, often paid 2–4 times a year.
22–28 days per year, with extra recovery leave on long-haul routes.
Istanbul housing allowance or provided accommodation for foreign pilots.
Hotel and per-diem for overseas stays, tiered by city rank.
Hiring status: Foreign captain hiring on record; type-rated candidates preferred.
Type training is also available in-house at THY's own Aviation Academy.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkish Airlines 🇹🇷 | $126K–$189K | $72K–$113K | 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.
Turkish Airlines captain pay averages about $157K per year (range $126K–$189K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Turkish Airlines first officer pay averages about $88K per year (range $72K–$113K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain & First Officer (Foreign Hire) — International operations · Istanbul base. Key requirements — License: ATPL (ICAO); English: ICAO Level 4+; Min Hours: Captain 4,000h+ (guide); Type: B787/A350/B777 widebody preferred. Type training is also available in-house at THY's own Aviation Academy.
Turkish Airlines captains average $157K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, Turkish Airlines captains earn about $13K a month and first officers about $7.4K. 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.
Turkish Airlines first officers average $88K and captains $157K — a step of about $69K, or roughly 1.8×. The full range runs $72K to $189K, 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 $157K and first officers $88K 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 Turkey 1 airline · captain avg $157K