Pilot Salary in India 2025: How Much Do Pilots Earn Per Month?
Did you know pilots in India can earn up to ₹ one crore a year with experience? Being a pilot is one of India’s most exciting and high-paPilot Salaryying jobs. Many young people dream of flying aeroplanes, travelling the world, and earning a good salary. However, one of the most common questions is, “What is the salary of a pilot in India per month?”
The aviation industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in India, with more planes and passengers increasing yearly. This means more jobs and high-paying salaries for pilots.
In this article, we will break down everything you need to know about pilot salary in India per month. Whether you’re a student aspiring to be a pilot or simply want to learn more about this high-profile profession, this guide will explain it in detail.
Pilot Salary in India
Pilots in India earn different amounts based on their roles and experience. On average, a pilot’s salary can range from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹10 lakh per month. If you’re starting as a pilot, you might earn less. But with time and more flying hours, your salary will increase.
For example, an experienced captain flying big planes can make ₹7-8 lakh per month. That’s a great income! A pilot’s monthly salary in India is influenced by several factors, which we will examine later.
Here is the average Pilot salary in India per month.
1. Trainee Pilot Salary
- A new Pilot starts their career as a trainee; after clearing the pilot course and securing the Commercial Pilot License, they can apply for this job.
- At first, the trainee pilots do not get full salaries, as they may still be completing training for an airline.
- Salary: ₹1,50,000 – ₹2,25,000 per month (depending on the airline and contract terms)
2. First Officer Salary
- A First Officer, also called a Co-Pilot, assists the Captain in flying the aircraft.
- After 1-3 years of experience, a trainee pilot is promoted to First Officer.
- Salary: ₹2,50,000 – ₹4,00,000 per month(depending on the airlines and flight hours.)
3. Captain Salary
- A Captain is the pilot in command of the aircraft and is responsible for the entire flight operation.
- Usually, it takes 5-10 years of experience to become a Captain.
- Salary: ₹6,00,000 – ₹12,00,000 per month. Captains who worked for major airlines with international routes earn even higher
4. Senior Captain & Training Pilot Salary
- Highly expert and experienced Captains who train new pilots and handle critical flight operations earn the highest salaries in the industry.
- These pilots have years of experience and often work for international airlines.
- Salary: ₹10,00,000 – ₹15,00,000 per month, with some international Captains earning up to ₹25,00,000 per month.
Apart from salary, pilots get benefits like free airline tickets, medical insurance, retirement benefits and many more.
Pilot Salary in India by Airline
Every airline pays its pilots differently. Let’s examine how much pilots earn at some well-known airlines.
- IndiGo: ₹2 lakh to ₹6 lakh per month
- Air India: ₹1.67 lakh to ₹10.56 lakh per month
- Vistara: ₹2 lakh to ₹7 lakh per month
Private airlines like Indigo and Vistara often pay well for skilled and experienced pilots. Even Government airlines like Air India( While Air India was a government-owned airline, it has since been privatized and is now owned by the Tata Group) offer good salaries, too, especially for experienced and senior pilots. In India, a pilot’s salary varies according to the size of the specific airline and how much that airline pays attention to the pilots’ welfare and job satisfaction.
Pilot Jobs in Private and Government Sectors
Pilots can choose from different career paths, each with its own opportunities and salary range. Here’s a simple breakdown of pilot jobs and their average monthly salaries (CTC) in Indian Rupees (INR) in different sectors:
Types of Pilot Jobs & Salaries
- Commercial Airlines
- Fly passenger planes for major airlines.
- Salary: INR 1.25 lakh – 5 lakh per month
- Cargo Airlines
- Transport goods and packages instead of passengers.
- Salary: INR 1 lakh – 3.3 lakh per month
- Charter & Private Jets
- Fly private jets for VIPs and businesses.
- Salary: INR 1.6 lakh – 6.25 lakh per month
- Helicopter Services
- Fly helicopters for tourism, transport, or rescue missions.
- Salary: INR 83,000 – 3.3 lakh per month
- Agricultural Aviation
- Fly aircraft for crop spraying and farming activities.
- Salary: INR 67,000 – 2.5 lakh per month
- Corporate Aviation
- Fly private jets for business executives.
- Salary: INR 1.6 lakh – 6.6 lakh per month
- Flight Instructors
- Train new pilots at aviation schools.
- Salary: INR 50,000 – 1.6 lakh per month
- Bush & Remote Area Flying
- Fly in difficult locations with few airports.
- Salary: INR 67,000 – 2.9 lakh per month
- Air Ambulance & Medical Flights
- Fly emergency medical flights to transport patients.
- Salary: INR 1.25 lakh – 4.1 lakh per month
- Search & Rescue Operations
- Help in rescue missions during disasters.
- Salary: INR 67,000 – 2.5 lakh per month
Each of these jobs offers exciting career opportunities for pilots based on their skills and interests!
International vs.India Pilot Salary
When it comes to comparison between international pilot and India pilot salaries, domestic pilots working in India have quite high salaries. Still, international pilots earn more due to higher pay scales and additional benefits.
