Cathay Pacific Pilot Salary 2026
First Officer and Captain pay from the Cathay Pacific careers pages. Updated .
How much does a Cathay Pacific pilot make in 2026?
Cathay Pacific publishes its own pilot pay. In 2026 the figures it states are: Second Officer, HK$629,109 a year; First Officer, HK$964,646 a year. We read them on Cathay Pacific's official pages on October 3, 2026. What each figure includes (base, flying pay, housing, allowances) is in the table below, as the airline words it.
- First Officer, from
- HK$629K/yr
- First Officer, up to
- HK$965K/yr
- Captain, from
- —
- Captain, up to
- —
Cathay Pacific pilot pay scale 2026
| Rank | Pay, as published |
|---|---|
| Second Officer | HK$629,109 / year |
| Target Annual Salary based on achieving Target Annual Block Hours (latest figures as of Jan 2026, subject to periodic review) | |
| Second Officer | HK$14,000 / month |
| Monthly Allowance, 'From HKD 14,000' (minimum; separate from the target annual salary) | |
| First Officer | HK$964,646 / year |
| Target Annual Salary based on achieving Target Annual Block Hours (latest figures as of Jan 2026, subject to periodic review) | |
| First Officer | HK$20,000 / month |
| Monthly allowance, 'From HKD 20,000' (minimum; separate from the target annual salary) | |
Sources and verification
Cathay Pacific careers pages (figures as of January 2026). Rates in force from January 1, 2026. Checked on .
- Cathay Careers - Pilot detail pagePrimary source · confirms: Second Officer: HKD 629,109* Target Annual Salary based on achieving Target Annual Block Hours; From HKD 14,000* Monthly Allowance; 21 days annual leave. First Officer: HKD 964,646* Target Annual Salary based on achieving Target Annual Block Hours; From HKD 20,000* Monthly allowance; 28 days annual leave. *Latest figures as of Jan 2026, subject to periodic review. No Captain figure published.
Cathay Careers - Pilot detail page (Second Officer / First Officer tabs): 'Latest figures as of Jan 2026, subject to periodic review'. Figures are what Cathay itself publishes, verbatim. 'Target Annual Salary' assumes the pilot achieves the Target Annual Block Hours (number not stated); the monthly allowance is a floor ('From'). Cathay does not publish a Captain figure, so none is recorded. The earlier 'HKD 932,000 + 20,000/month' was the First Officer tab (Jan 2025 figures); it has been superseded by HKD 964,646 (Jan 2026). No pay table/hourly rates published.
Before Cathay Pacific pays you any of this, you sit their aptitude battery.
Sit a timed practice paper free — no account. Scored on pace as well as accuracy, because pace is what the real battery culls on.
Benefits and terms, as published
- Annual leave
- Second Officer 21 days; First Officer 28 days
- Other benefits listed
- Discretionary year-end bonus and profit share payment; company pension contribution; medical coverage; discounted travel; global children's education allowance for eligible officers; typical Hong Kong tax rate around 17%
- Direct-entry FO requirements
- ATPL/CPL+MEIR with ATPL credits; min 1,500 h total (3,000 preferred) incl. 500 h P1; fleets A321neo, A330, A350, B777, B747
- Hiring status (2026-10-03)
- Both Second Officer and First Officer tabs say 'we are not hiring for this position at this time'
- Previous published figure
- An earlier check (2026-08-22, figures dated Jan 2025) recorded HKD 932,000 target annual + HKD 20,000/month for First Officer; the Jan 2026 FO figure is HKD 964,646
What it takes to get hired at Cathay Pacific
Checked against Cathay Pacific's official careers pages on August 22, 2026. Full Cathay Pacific recruitment guide
| Certificates | ICAO ATPL, or CPL with MEIR plus same-state ATPL exam credits obtained without exemption or conversion |
|---|---|
| Total Flight Time | 1,500 hours minimum (3,000 preferred) |
| P1 Time | 500 hours as P1, of which a maximum of 250 may be P1 U/S |
| Multi-crew Time | 500 hours on multi-crew civil aircraft over 45,000 kg MTOW, or 1,500 hours on multi-crew aircraft over 10,000 kg / 19+ seats |
| Recency | 500 hours (including 250 P1) in the preceding 5 years, or 100 sectors |
From student pilot to Cathay Pacific Captain
Shown for the EASA system most non-US airlines recruit from; other authorities are similar. Hour figures are regulatory minimums, time ranges are typical.
Step 1
Class 1 medical + theory
First month EASA Part-MED / Part-FCLBook the Class 1 medical before paying any school. Then ATPL theory: 13 subjects under the EASA syllabus (other authorities differ).
Try free private-pilot theory questions (FAA format)Step 2
CPL / IR / multi-engine training
≈ 200 h (EASA integrated minimum 195 h) 18–24 months integrated EASA FCL Appendix 3Integrated course in one go, or modular (PPL first, then hour building, CPL, IR). Ends with multi-crew (MCC/APS) training.
Step 3
Type rating (A320 / 737)
Simulator + base training 2–3 monthsPaid by the airline in some cadet or direct-entry schemes, self-funded in others — check the specific vacancy.
Step 4
Cathay Pacific First Officer
Airline-specificLow-hour pilots usually join with a frozen ATPL.
Step 5
Full ATPL (unfrozen)
1,500 h incl. 500 h multi-pilot 3–4 years of line flying EASA FCL.510.AThe licence you need to be pilot-in-command of a multi-pilot airliner.
Step 6
Cathay Pacific Captain
Command course Depends on seniority and growthUpgrade criteria (hours, time in seat, assessment) are set by each airline.
Knowing what Cathay Pacific pays is the easy part. Getting through their selection is the part that decides whether you ever earn it.
Before a human reads your application there is an aptitude battery, and candidates consistently report it as the heaviest cull — pace, not difficulty. You can practise it here for free: timed papers generated fresh each run, plus a divided-attention drill that measures how much your performance degrades under load.
Already past the paperwork and preparing for the panel? , scored against the answers a panel is listening for. Seven days of access, no subscription.
No Cathay Pacific pack yet — want it built?
We will not pretend to have one. We build the next pack for the airline that gets asked for most, so leaving your address here is a vote. No sequence, one email when it ships.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Cathay Pacific pilot make in 2026?
Cathay Pacific publishes its own pilot pay. In 2026 the figures it states are: Second Officer, HK$629,109 a year; First Officer, HK$964,646 a year. We read them on Cathay Pacific's official pages on October 3, 2026. What each figure includes (base, flying pay, housing, allowances) is in the table below, as the airline words it.
Is Cathay Pacific hiring pilots in 2026?
Cathay Pacific is hiring pilots, according to its official careers pages as of August 22, 2026. Openings change month to month, so check the live posting before you apply.
What do you need to fly for Cathay Pacific?
Certificates: ICAO ATPL, or CPL with MEIR plus same-state ATPL exam credits obtained without exemption or conversion Total Flight Time: 1,500 hours minimum (3,000 preferred) P1 Time: 500 hours as P1, of which a maximum of 250 may be P1 U/S
Where do these Cathay Pacific pay figures come from?
From Cathay Pacific careers pages (figures as of January 2026). We read it on October 3, 2026 via: Cathay Careers - Pilot detail page.
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