HomePilot Salary by CountryChina

Pilot Salary in China

4 airlines based in China, compared on captain and first officer averages and ranges. Civil aviation authority: CAAC.

4 airlines #12 of 51 countries
Captain average
¥2,990万
¥2,100万〜4,800万
First officer average
¥1,520万
¥980万〜2,200万
vs world average
+21%
world avg ¥2,480万
Top payer
Air China
captain ¥3,050万

Pilot salary by airline in China

Sorted by captain average, highest first. Click an airline for its pay breakdown, fleet, hiring requirements and reviews from working pilots.

Airline Captain avg Captain range F/O avg F/O range
Air China ¥3,050万 ¥2,200万〜4,800万 ¥1,550万 ¥1,000万〜2,200万
Hainan Airlines ¥3,050万 ¥2,200万〜4,800万 ¥1,550万 ¥1,000万〜2,200万
China Southern Airlines ¥2,950万 ¥2,100万〜4,700万 ¥1,500万 ¥980万〜2,100万
China Eastern Airlines ¥2,900万 ¥2,100万〜4,600万 ¥1,480万 ¥980万〜2,100万

Where China sits worldwide

Captain averages side by side. China sits at ¥2,990万 against a ¥2,480万 average across all 112 airlines — about 21% above. That places it 12th of the 51 countries covered.

World average
¥2,480万
Japan
¥1,850万
🇨🇳 China
¥2,990万
🇺🇸 United States
¥4,380万
🇨🇭 Switzerland
¥4,100万
🇳🇱 Netherlands
¥3,960万

Country figures are the unweighted mean of captain averages for the airlines we list there. World first officer average: ¥1,400万 across 112 airlines.

Compare other countries

To see the whole region at once, go to pilot salary in Asia — 26 airlines across 12 countries, captains averaging ¥2,140万.

Frequently asked questions

How much do pilots earn in China?
Across the 4 airlines we list in China, captains average ¥2,990万 (¥2,100万〜4,800万) and first officers average ¥1,520万 (¥980万〜2,200万). That is about 21% above the ¥2,480万 captain average across all 112 airlines we track.
Which airline in China pays pilots the most?
Of the 4 airlines listed, Air China pays the most: captains average ¥3,050万 (¥2,200万〜4,800万) and first officers ¥1,550万.
How does China rank worldwide for pilot pay?
Ranked by captain average across the 51 countries we cover, China is number 12. The world average is ¥2,480万; China sits at ¥2,990万.
How does it compare with Japanese airlines?
Captains at the 26 Japanese airlines we list average ¥1,850万. China at ¥2,990万 is ¥1,140万 higher.