Pilot: salary in the UK
ONS occupation: Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers (SOC 3511)
Pay range
The dark part is the middle half of full-time employees (25% to 75%); the light bar runs from 10% to 90%. ONS doesn't publish the highest or lowest salary, and x means a figure wasn't published.
Pay by year
The median went from £62,314 in 2021 to £86,083 in 2025 (+38%); for all full-time employees in the UK it changed by +25% over the same years.
Figures by year
| P10 | P25 | Median | P75 | P90 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | x | £45,155 | £62,314 | x | x |
| 2022 | x | £53,544 | £67,644 | x | x |
| 2023 | x | x | £74,044 | x | x |
| 2024 | x | £64,096 | £80,414 | x | x |
| 2025 | x | £64,659 | £86,083 | x | x |
| 2026 | x | £73,171 | x | x | x |
ONS figures for each year, not adjusted for inflation. Years before 2021 used a different occupation classification, so they can't be compared. Earlier years are ONS's revised figures; the latest is provisional.
ONS didn't publish salary figures for Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers in 2026: too few full-time employees were in the survey sample for a reliable estimate. This is common for jobs where many people are self-employed, because the survey only covers employees.
The wider group Transport Associate Professionals (SOC 351) has a median of £82,952 a year.
ONS did publish a mean of £111,595, which is less reliable than a median would be.
Percentiles
| Percentile | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th (P10) | x | x |
| 20th | x | x |
| 25th (P25) | £73,171 | £6,098 |
| 30th | £83,105 | £6,925 |
| 40th | £85,570 | £7,131 |
| Median (50th) | x | x |
| 60th | £110,909 | £9,242 |
| 70th | x | x |
| 75th (P75) | x | x |
| 80th | x | x |
| 90th (P90) | x | x |
Job titles in this occupation
ONS codes these 35 job titles to SOC 3511 Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers. Pay figures are for the whole occupation, not for each title.
- Aeroplane pilot
- Air traffic control officer
- Air traffic controller
- Air traffic planner
- Air traffic service assistant
- Air traffic services assistant
- Aircraft flight deck officer
- Airline captain
- Airline pilot
- Airlines officer
- Area radar controller
- Aviator
- Briefing officer
- Captain
- Commercial pilot
- Controller of aircraft
- Engineer
- Engineer officer
- First officer
- Flight engineer
- Flight instructor
- Flight planner
- Flight simulation instructor
- Flight trainer
- Flying instructor
- Ground movement controller
- Helicopter pilot
- Instructor
- Navigating officer
- Navigator
- Officer
- Pilot
- Second officer
- Space control officer
- Test pilot
Similar occupations
All jobs in Associate professional occupations
Source: ONS, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings 2026 provisional, Table 14.7a (full-time employees, gross annual pay, UK, tax year ending 5 April 2026). Provisional figures may be revised.