When it comes to pilot salary, the average salary in India starts from INR 9.1 LPA to 12.85 LPA. However, after gaining enough experience and experience or after that a pilot can expect an average salary of INR 1 Crore after becoming a senior pilot. In today's article, we will learn about the average salary, salary per month and highest salary of pilots in India.
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Who is the pilot?
They are primarily the controllers of any aircraft, commercial, private or government. In their duties, they are mainly responsible for keeping their aircraft clean and running frequent tests to check the functioning as well as other related issues. Mainly students choose to become commercial pilots in India or work for the government defense forces. The average and highest salary depends on the sector in which they are working.
How to Become a Pilot in India: Eligibility
educational requirements
- Must have passed 10+2 (or equivalent) with at least 50% marks with Physics and Mathematics subjects.
- Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering, Aircraft Operations or similar field is a must. However, in some cases this is not required.
Medical Requirements
Pass the first class medical examination conducted by a DGCA approved doctor.
Other Important Requirements
- You must be at least 18 years of age to obtain a commercial pilot license (CPL).
- You must be a citizen of India.
- You must have a valid passport.
- You must be proficient in English.
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Average Salary of Pilot in India
| profile | Starting Annual Salary (INR) | Mid-range Annual Salary (INR) | Senior Post Annual Salary (INR) |
| Armed-services pilot | 2.7 L | 6 L – 8 L | 10 L – 25 L |
| Private Pilot | 7 L | 10 L – 22 L | N/A |
| commercial pilot | 8.75 Lakh | 24 L | 1.5 crores. |
| Captain, Air India | 25 L | 50 L – 75 L | 1 Crore – 2 Crore |
| Captain, Indigo | 30 L | 60 L – 90 L | 1.5 crore – 2.5 crore |
| Captain, Emirates | 60 L | 1 Crore – 1.5 Crore | 2 Crore – 5 Crore |
The average salary of any pilot depends on the airline, organization and sector in which he is working and in some cases, also on the location.
In India, the average salary of a pilot is expected to be around 10 lakhs to 50 lakhs per year. And the incentives they get can range from 10,000 to 9.86 lakhs. Most pilot salaries depend on experience, airline and the aircraft they fly.2 For example, a pilot with more than 10 years of experience flying a large commercial aircraft for a major airline can earn much more than the average pilot with less experience.
Pilot Salary in India (per month)
Below is given the salary per month as per their experience.
Pilot Salary Per Month in India : Freshers
Any commercial airline pilot with less than a year of experience can earn ₹15.26 lakhs. This includes tips, overtime pay and incentives. Freshers in commercial in India earn around ₹1.27 lakhs per month and commercial airline pilots with more than 1 to 4 years of experience can earn ₹18.09 lakhs annually.
Pilot Salary Per Month in India: Medium
A commercial airline pilot with more than 5 to 10 years of experience can get an annual income of ₹25.89 lakhs in India and around ₹2.16 lakhs per month.
Pilot Salary Per Month in India: Experienced
Any expert commercial airline pilot with 10 to 17 years of experience can easily earn ₹15.26 lakhs per month and the one with more than 20 years of experience can easily earn ₹70 lakhs per month.
Highest Paying Airlines in India
Here is the list of highest paying airlines for pilots in India:
- Indigo
- Air India
- Vistara
- SpiceJet
- GoFirst
Pilot Salary in Various Airlines in India
| Type of airline | Entry Level Pilot Salary (INR) | Senior Pilot Salary (INR) | Example |
| Full-service carriers (FSCs) | 10-15 lakhs | 50+ Lakh | Air India, Vistara, Indigo |
| Low Cost Carrier Companies (LCC) | 7-10 Lakh | 30-40 lakhs | SpiceJet, GoAir, AirAsia India |
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| Job Profile Average Annual Salary (INR) | Annual Salary (Indian Rupees) |
| Queue | Rs 14.15 lakh per year |
| Emirates | Rs 97.2 lakh per year |
| Spice Jet | Rs 38 lakh per year |
| Air Asia | Rs 86.3 lakh per year |
| Indigo | INR 30.65 LPA |
| Vistara | Rs 74.1 lakh per year |
Pilot salary based on experience
| Experience | Salary |
| Freshers | ₹9 LPA – ₹11.25 LPA |
| 1-3 years | ₹15 LPA – ₹25 LPA |
| 3-5 years | ₹25 LPA – ₹35 LPA |
| 5-10 years | ₹35 LPA – ₹50 LPA |
| 10+ years | ₹50 LPA – ₹1 Crore |
Key Responsibilities as a Pilot
Flying a plane full of passengers or people or carrying luggage is not an easy job but being a pilot comes with a lot of responsibilities too.
- Safe operation and control of an aircraft.
- Take off and land safely and efficiently.
- Monitoring and maintenance of aircraft systems.
- Also communicating with air traffic control and other aircraft pilots.
- Ensuring the safety and comfort of passengers and crew.
- Respond timely to emergencies and unforeseen events.
The career scope for pilots in India is huge and offers exciting opportunities in various sectors of the aviation industry. Pilots play a very important role in ensuring safe flight operations. Being a responsible pilot requires unique skills. While flying a plane, communication is the main key to communicate with various fellow co-pilots. Decision making ability, technical aptitude, and situational awareness are some of the important skills that a pilot must possess. And depending on the experience of the pilots, their salary fluctuates from year to year and it can range from lakhs to crores. A career like flying a plane has always been challenging, we can say it can be thrilling till retirement.