Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers: average salary and pay in the UK
Full-time aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers in the UK earned a median £82,746 in the year to 5 April 2025, according to the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE): 112% more than the £39,039 median for all full-time jobs.
What the figures show
Only 5 of 382 occupations with a published full-time median are higher.
A full-time median is published for men only; the sample of women is too small.
Paid hours are long: a full-time median of 40 a week including overtime, against 37.5 across all jobs.
Most jobs here are part-time: 10,000 of about 21,000 are full-time.
Since 2021 the median has risen 32.8% (from £62,314), faster than the 25.0% for all jobs.
The Annual Population Survey counts 33,200 people in this line of work, 32% of them in South East.
Pay distribution, 2025 provisional
| Gross pay | Full-time, annual | Full-time, weekly | Full-time, hourly | All, annual | All, weekly | All, hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | – | – | – | £55,377* | £1,188.00* | £31.85 |
| 20th percentile | £57,071* | £1,253.70* | – | £68,872* | £1,435.40 | £35.89* |
| 25th percentile | £61,511* | £1,273.80 | £31.89 | £79,074* | £1,558.20 | £43.63* |
| 30th percentile | £64,957* | £1,430.80 | £34.37* | £83,367 | £1,679.80 | £54.06* |
| 40th percentile | £78,601* | £1,535.60* | £38.03* | £94,321 | £2,013.40 | £61.51 |
| Median (50th percentile) | £82,746* | £1,971.80* | £47.32* | £107,712 | £2,187.60 | £67.73 |
| 60th percentile | £94,685* | – | £54.69* | £118,628* | £2,340.50 | £76.51 |
| 70th percentile | – | – | £59.05* | £132,762* | £2,577.50* | £80.43* |
| 75th percentile | – | – | – | – | £2,712.50* | – |
| 80th percentile | – | – | – | – | £3,284.40* | – |
| Mean | – | £2,044.10 | £49.53 | £130,560* | £2,323.70 | £68.35 |
Pay since 2021
| ASHE year | Full-time, annual median | Full-time, weekly median | Full-time, hourly median | All, annual median | All, weekly median | Jobs (thousands, indicative) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 revised | £62,314* | £1,207.70* | – | £62,058* | £1,215.50* | 11* |
| 2022 revised | £67,644* | £1,434.60* | £35.99* | £67,672* | £1,434.70* | 11* |
| 2023 revised | £74,044* | £1,494.30 | £37.36* | £82,283* | £1,697.60 | 16* |
| 2024 revised | £80,414* | £1,665.30 | £42.92 | £96,417 | £1,755.60 | 13* |
| 2025 provisional | £82,746* | £1,971.80* | £47.32* | £107,712 | £2,187.60 | 21* |
Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers by region
UK: 33,200 (± 7,100), April 2025 to March 2026. 11 of the 12 regions and nations have samples too small to publish.
| Region or nation | People in employment | 95% confidence interval |
|---|---|---|
| South East | 10,600* | ± 4,100 |
Annual Population Survey (Nomis)
What aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers do
Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers navigate and pilot aircraft, prepare flight plans, authorise flight departures and arrivals, maintain radio, radar and/or visual contact with aircraft to ensure the safe movement of air traffic, check, regulate, adjust and test engines and other equipment prior to take-off and give flying lessons. (ONS SOC 2020, 3511)
Also covers: airline pilot, air traffic controller, first officer (airlines), flight engineer, flight planner, flying instructor, helicopter pilot, aeroplane pilot, airline captain, airlines officer, commercial pilot, engineer (nos), engineer officer, first officer, flight instructor, flight trainer, navigating officer and navigator (aircraft) (34 titles in the ONS coding index).
- Studies flight plan and makes any necessary adjustments
- Directs or undertakes checks on engines, instruments, control panels, cargo distribution, fuel supplies, aircraft's stability, response to controls and overall performance
- Directs or undertakes the operation of controls to fly airplanes and helicopters, complying with air traffic control and aircraft operating procedures
- Monitors fuel consumption, air pressure, engine performance and other indicators during flight and advises pilot of any factors that affect the navigation or performance of the aircraft
- Maintains radio contact and discusses weather conditions with air traffic controllers
- Directs the movement of aircraft and maintains radio and/or radar or visual contact en-route to its destination, in and out of controlled airspace or into holding areas ready for landing
Entrants with GCSEs/S grades and A levels/H grades, a BTEC/ SQA award or equivalent qualification can apply for an airline sponsorship. Private residential training as a pilot is available to candidates with GCSEs/S grades or appropriate BTEC/SQA or other certificates/diplomas or to holders of Private Pilots Licences who have 700 hours flying experience. Training lasts up to 15 months and consists of courses of study and flying instruction. Airlines may have additional age and height requirements. Air traffic controllers training lasts 74 weeks including study and practical experience. Entrants must be 18 to hold a Student Licence and 21 for a full air traffic controller licence awarded by the Civil Aviation Authority. Normal colour vision is required for pilots and air traffic controllers and candidates also undergo a medical examination.
Related
Transport associate professionals (median £76,520*) · Ship and hovercraft officers · Legal associate professionals · salary percentile · Average weekly hours worked in the UK · Median
ASHE Table 14: 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 · coding index · notes · 15 October 2026