easyJet Pilot Salary 2026
First Officer & Captain pay scales · Updated May 2026
Strong UK and European presence with good work-life balance for an LCC. Better reputation among pilots than most budget carriers.
| First Officer (entry) | £48,000 /yr |
|---|---|
| First Officer (mid-career) | £65,000 /yr |
| Captain (year 1) | £115,000 /yr |
| Captain (top of scale) | £165,000 /yr |
| Currency | GBP · United Kingdom |
| Minimum hours | 500 total time |
| Type rating | Required before joining |
| Hiring status | Actively hiring |
| Fleet you will fly | A319, A320, A321neo |
Cross-check these numbers against the broader 2026 pilot pay benchmarks before you commit, and if you are still building hours, see how a sponsored seat at a 2026 airline cadet program shortcuts the path to easyJet.
Most pilots get to easyJet the long way: a regional first. Compare these scales against the 2026 regional airline pay scales to see what your first 3–5 years actually look like, or the cargo pilot salary guide if FedEx or UPS is on your shortlist. Aiming for a US legacy seat? The step-by-step how to get hired at Delta playbook breaks down what the US legacy interview panels actually weigh.
Inside the cockpit
easyJet operates a single-type Airbus narrowbody operation — A319, A320, and A321neo — across 35+ UK and European bases, with London Gatwick serving as the largest. The all-Airbus fleet means a single type rating covers your entire career progression, eliminating the retraining costs and disruption common at mixed-fleet carriers. Pilots based at LGW fly dense European trunk routes: Amsterdam, Barcelona, Geneva, and Lisbon dominate the roster. The A321neo introduction has extended sector lengths and added operational complexity without the long-haul disruption to lifestyle. easyJet operates no widebodies and no long-haul flying — this is a deliberate network choice, not a gap. The pension is a defined contribution scheme, and pilot scheduling is governed by the UK Flight Time Limitation framework post-Brexit, with bases across Europe subject to local collective agreements that affect pay and roster patterns meaningfully.
Salary by Seat × Year
| Position | Year 1 | Year 5 | Year 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Officer | £48,000 | £65,000 | £80,000 |
| Captain | £115,000 | £140,000 | £165,000 |
All figures in GBP. Base pay only — does not include per diem, profit sharing or 401k/pension match where applicable.
How easyJet Pay Compares
Same currency (GBP), captain top-of-scale ranked. Helps you sanity-check whether easyJet pays above or below market for its peer group.
| Airline | FO Year 1 | FO Year 10 | Captain Year 1 | Captain top |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | £58,000 | £100,000 | £135,000 | £200,000 |
| easyJet (this page) | £48,000 | £80,000 | £115,000 | £165,000 |
Salary Progression
First Officer
Captain
What pilots actually need to know
Base seniority at easyJet is critical in a way that catches new joiners off guard. Each base holds its own seniority list, and a Captain at a smaller base like Bristol or Belfast may have significantly less displacement risk than a junior Captain at LGW despite identical pay. Bidding for the A321neo fleet has historically favoured LGW and LTN seniority, making base choice at FO entry a decision that compounds over time.
Benefits & Total Compensation
Base pay is only the floor. easyJet also includes the following package items, which can lift total comp by 20–40% above advertised base.
Fleet Types
30 pilot bases worldwide
Requirements & Career
Minimum Flight Hours
500
Type Rating Provided
No
Career Progression
Average
Unionized
Yes
Quality of Life Rating
Based on schedule flexibility, base locations, commutability, travel benefits, and overall pilot satisfaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long until easyJet Captain?
Typical upgrade timelines at easyJet have ranged from four to seven years as a First Officer, though this varies sharply by base and fleet expansion pace. There is no published minimum hours figure for command, but candidates are generally expected to hold around 3,000 hours total time and demonstrate Command Course readiness assessed internally. During periods of rapid growth — as seen 2022 to 2024 — some FOs upgraded closer to the four-year mark at expanding bases. Contraction phases can push this beyond six years. The A321neo expansion has created incremental command opportunities at select bases.
What is the easyJet pilot pension worth?
easyJet offers a defined contribution pension scheme, not a final salary arrangement. Employer contributions have been reported at around 8 to 10 percent of pensionable pay, with pilots able to make additional voluntary contributions. This is broadly in line with UK LCC norms but trails legacy carriers such as British Airways, whose New Airways Pension Scheme or NAPS successor offers more favourable long-term accrual for long-tenured pilots. For financial planning purposes, easyJet pilots should model DC outcomes carefully given the absence of a guaranteed annuity floor. Salary sacrifice arrangements are available and commonly used to improve tax efficiency on contributions.
Does easyJet hire low-time pilots?
easyJet does not have a structured in-house cadet programme in the way that Lufthansa or Air France operate, but it has historically partnered with approved training organisations including Oxford Aviation Academy and CAE for cadet pipelines that feed directly into easyJet First Officer roles upon licence issue. Minimum entry requirements for direct-entry FO positions typically sit at 200 hours for cadets coming through approved pathways, and higher for open applications. As of 2025 and looking into 2026, easyJet's hiring posture has been selective but active, with base-specific vacancies driven by attrition and limited fleet growth rather than aggressive expansion hiring.
How much does a easyJet pilot make?
A First Officer at easyJet earns £48,000 in year 1, rising to £80,000 by year 10. Captains earn £115,000 initially, reaching £165,000 at year 10.
Is easyJet hiring pilots in 2026?
Yes, easyJet is actively hiring pilots in 2026. Minimum flight hours required: 500.
What are the minimum hours to fly for easyJet?
easyJet requires a minimum of 500 total flight hours. You may need to obtain a type rating at your own expense.
Does easyJet provide type rating training?
No, easyJet typically requires pilots to have a type rating before joining. Self-sponsored type ratings on A319, A320, A321neo are common.
What is the career progression like at easyJet?
Career progression at easyJet is rated as "Average". Pilots are unionized, which provides structured seniority-based advancement. Quality of life is rated 4/5.
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