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Average Airline Copilot Salary in United Kingdom for 2026

An airline copilot in United Kingdom earns about 79,600 GBP a year. That's 14% above the national average of 69,700 GBP.

Pay ranges widely from country to country and from role to role. The lowest reported salaries in United Kingdom sit around 36,800 GBP a year, while the very top stretches to 127,700 GBP. Everything on this page is in British pound (GBP, symbol £), which lets you compare numbers like-for-like without worrying about exchange rates.

The numbers here are pulled together from official government wage data, large independent salary surveys, and aggregated worker-reported pay. Most reported salaries include the benefits that are common in United Kingdom, such as housing or transport allowances, which is worth keeping in mind if you're comparing against a country where those are usually paid on top.

To turn a gross salary in United Kingdom into a take-home figure, use our United Kingdom salary after tax calculator, which works the latest tax brackets and contributions through the math for you.

How much does an airline copilot make in United Kingdom?

Average salary
79,600 GBP
6,633 GBP per month
Lowest reported
36,800 GBP
3,066 GBP per month
Highest reported
127,700 GBP
10,641 GBP per month

A typical airline copilot working in United Kingdom brings home around 6,633 GBP a month before tax. Entry-level pay starts near 36,800 GBP, and the top of the ladder reaches roughly 127,700 GBP for the most experienced and specialised people in the role.

The wide gap between low end and top end reflects how much pay can vary inside the same job title. A junior airline copilot working at a small local employer earns very different money from a senior at a multinational. Skills, employer, city and years in the seat all push the number around. For a cross-country comparison, see the airline copilot salary in Guernsey or Jersey, both of which pay in the same currency.

How airline copilot pay ranges in United Kingdom

A good way to think about salary in United Kingdom is to look at the distribution rather than the headline average. Half of all airline copilots in United Kingdom earn less than 85,500 GBP a year, and the other half earn more. That middle number is the median, and it is usually more useful than the average for answering "is my pay normal here".

Looking at the quartiles fills in the picture. A quarter of earners take home less than 54,200 GBP (the 25th percentile), and a quarter clear 116,400 GBP (the 75th percentile). The middle 50% of airline copilots sit somewhere inside that band, which is where the typical reader of this page probably lives.

The very lowest reported salaries sit around 36,800 GBP. The highest stretch to 127,700 GBP, though only a small fraction of earners ever reach that level. If you are deciding whether your own offer or current pay is reasonable, work out which of those four bands you would fall into and use that as your reference point.

36,800
Low
85,500
Median
127,700
High
54,200
25th
116,400
75th
The middle 50% sit between the 25th and 75th percentile Tails are the lowest and highest reported All figures in GBP

Airline copilot pay by experience in United Kingdom

Years of experience is the single biggest lever on pay for an airline copilot in United Kingdom, ahead of education and almost any other single factor. The longer you have been in the role, the more your employer can trust you to handle complexity, mentor others and act independently, all of which command higher pay. The chart below shows how the typical airline copilot salary changes as you move through the career ladder.

  • 0-2 Years
    41,000 GBP
  • 2-5 Years
    +32% from previous
    54,100 GBP
  • 5-10 Years
    +55% from previous
    83,700 GBP
  • 10-15 Years
    +19% from previous
    99,700 GBP
  • 15-20 Years
    +10% from previous
    109,700 GBP
  • 20+ Years
    +7% from previous
    117,100 GBP

The single largest jump on the ladder is from 2 - 5 Years to 5 - 10 Years, where pay rises by about 55%. That is the point at which a airline copilot typically goes from "competent in the role" to "the person other people in the team learn from", and the market pays well for that step.

Airline copilot pay by education in United Kingdom

Education sits alongside experience as one of the biggest factors driving airline copilot pay in United Kingdom. Higher qualifications consistently pull higher salaries, but the size of the gap tends to be smallest at junior levels and widens as people move up. Two people in the same role with the same years of experience but different degrees can end up earning very different money once they reach mid-career.

Below is the average airline copilot salary in United Kingdom broken down by the highest level of education a worker has completed.

  • Certificate or Diploma
    45,600 GBP
  • Bachelor's Degree
    +64% from previous
    75,000 GBP
  • Master's Degree
    +65% from previous
    123,800 GBP

Airline copilot gender pay gap in United Kingdom

The gender pay gap is a stubborn feature of almost every labour market, and United Kingdom is no exception. Male airline copilots in United Kingdom earn an average of 82,300 GBP a year, while female airline copilots earn around 78,100 GBP. That works out to a 5% gap in favour of men, even when comparing people doing the same work.

A pay gap of this size has a real long-term cost. Over a typical thirty-year career it can add up to several years of pay, and it compounds through pensions, retirement contributions and bonus-linked stock. Some of the gap is explained by women being more likely to work part-time, take career breaks, or be steered toward lower-paying specialisations. Some of it is straightforward unequal pay for the same job, which is harder to defend.

Airline Copilot gender pay gap

5%

Men earn this much more than women on average in United Kingdom.

Men 82,300 GBP
Women 78,100 GBP

Pay raises for an airline copilot in United Kingdom

Most countries hand out at least some kind of pay raise every year, typically when an employee's contract is reviewed or as a cost-of-living adjustment to keep wages roughly in step with inflation. The rhythm and size of those raises varies hugely between industries.

A typical worker doing this role in United Kingdom sees a raise of about 12% every 15 months, which works out to roughly 10% on an annual basis. That figure is the typical underlying rate; in years where inflation runs high you can usually expect a bit more, and in flat-economy years a bit less.

Across all jobs in United Kingdom, the national average raise is around 9% every 15 months.

By industry

Industries with the highest pay raises in United Kingdom:

  • Banking
  • Energy
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Travel
  • Construction
  • Education

By experience level

Experienced workers tend to see larger raises. Retaining a senior is cheaper than replacing them, so employers fight harder for them.

  • Junior Level
    3% - 5%
  • Mid-Career
  • Senior Level
  • Top Management

Airline copilot bonus rates in United Kingdom

Bonuses are the other half of total compensation, and they vary a lot between jobs and industries. Some roles are paid almost entirely in base salary; others lean heavily on bonus structures tied to revenue, project completion or company performance. Whether a job pays a bonus, how big it is, and how often it lands all factor into whether the headline salary is actually a good offer.

87%

87% of airline copilots in United Kingdom reported a bonus of some kind in the past twelve months. That makes an airline copilot a high-bonus role overall, which is useful context when you're weighing up a job offer where the base is below market.

Among those who did receive a bonus, the size of the payment varied substantially. Reported bonuses ranged from 5% to 9% of base salary. The remaining 13% of airline copilots reported no bonus at all over the same period.

Which careers pay bonuses in United Kingdom

Revenue-facing roles tend to pay the biggest bonuses. Operational and support roles tend toward smaller, more predictable ones.

  • Finance
  • Architecture
  • Sales
  • Business Development
  • Marketing / Advertising
  • Information Technology
  • Healthcare
  • Insurance
  • Customer Service
  • Human Resources
  • Construction
  • Transport
  • Hospitality

Airline copilot: public vs private sector pay

Public-sector pay in United Kingdom is about 7% more than private-sector pay for similar work. The private sector typically offers stronger upside and bigger bonuses; the public sector typically offers better benefits and stability.

Public vs private pay gap

6%

Public-sector workers earn this much more than private-sector workers in United Kingdom on average.

Public sector 72,700 GBP
Private sector 68,200 GBP

Airline copilot salary by city and region in United Kingdom

Airline copilot pay is not even across United Kingdom. The chart below shows the highest-paying cities and regions in the dataset, followed by the full location table.

  • England
  • Scotland
  • Leeds
  • Liverpool
  • London
  • Edinburgh
  • Sheffield
  • Cardiff
  • Birmingham
  • Bradford
LocationTypeAverageMedianRange
EnglandRegion147,900 GBP158,900 GBP67,500-232,500 GBP
ScotlandRegion114,300 GBP123,800 GBP54,600-183,600 GBP
LeedsCity97,200 GBP105,200 GBP45,000-152,900 GBP
LiverpoolCity95,500 GBP102,700 GBP45,300-153,800 GBP
LondonCity95,100 GBP103,600 GBP44,900-151,800 GBP
EdinburghCity94,300 GBP99,700 GBP41,500-146,900 GBP
SheffieldCity93,100 GBP103,600 GBP44,900-151,800 GBP
CardiffCity92,900 GBP99,900 GBP42,700-147,900 GBP
BirminghamCity92,300 GBP97,400 GBP42,500-142,300 GBP
BradfordCity92,100 GBP100,500 GBP41,500-147,900 GBP
GlasgowCity91,600 GBP100,900 GBP44,300-148,300 GBP
BristolCity91,000 GBP96,400 GBP40,700-142,300 GBP
ManchesterCity89,900 GBP97,600 GBP40,200-140,200 GBP
SomersetCity89,400 GBP99,400 GBP41,000-142,300 GBP
DerbyCity89,300 GBP95,500 GBP39,500-141,000 GBP
LeicesterCity89,200 GBP95,400 GBP40,700-142,300 GBP
NottinghamCity87,700 GBP94,800 GBP38,000-139,100 GBP
BelfastCity87,300 GBP92,100 GBP40,900-137,100 GBP
SouthamptonCity87,200 GBP93,200 GBP38,000-137,100 GBP
PortsmouthCity87,000 GBP95,100 GBP39,300-138,700 GBP
SwanseaCity86,600 GBP95,300 GBP41,700-140,700 GBP
YorkCity86,400 GBP92,100 GBP39,800-134,700 GBP
BrightonCity86,100 GBP92,200 GBP38,000-139,100 GBP
PeterboroughCity85,400 GBP92,900 GBP39,600-134,700 GBP
CoventryCity85,100 GBP92,400 GBP39,100-134,100 GBP
NewcastleCity84,200 GBP90,000 GBP36,900-130,500 GBP
ArmaghCity83,800 GBP89,200 GBP36,500-130,400 GBP
PlymouthCity83,700 GBP91,600 GBP39,800-134,700 GBP
Kingston upon HullCity83,700 GBP92,100 GBP39,800-134,700 GBP
WolverhamptonCity82,300 GBP88,400 GBP38,700-130,500 GBP
CambridgeCity81,700 GBP87,900 GBP36,200-130,500 GBP
AberdeenCity81,300 GBP91,000 GBP36,500-130,400 GBP
NewportCity81,300 GBP86,600 GBP36,700-130,500 GBP
NorwichCity81,000 GBP86,800 GBP35,600-130,500 GBP
GloucesterCity81,000 GBP86,800 GBP35,600-130,500 GBP
LincolnCity79,700 GBP83,100 GBP35,000-123,800 GBP
OxfordCity79,000 GBP86,400 GBP34,900-123,800 GBP
DundeeCity78,900 GBP83,800 GBP35,300-125,400 GBP
StirlingCity78,500 GBP85,500 GBP36,000-124,500 GBP
PooleCity78,200 GBP83,000 GBP36,000-124,500 GBP
WalesRegion77,400 GBP82,200 GBP35,300-119,700 GBP
AbingdonCity77,300 GBP79,600 GBP33,000-119,700 GBP
ExeterCity76,800 GBP84,200 GBP33,300-123,000 GBP
DurhamCity76,000 GBP81,300 GBP33,000-118,900 GBP
NewryCity75,800 GBP84,900 GBP36,600-124,500 GBP
HartlepoolCity75,800 GBP83,300 GBP37,200-123,000 GBP
LisburnCity75,800 GBP83,300 GBP37,200-124,500 GBP
CanterburyCity75,500 GBP79,500 GBP35,100-118,900 GBP
ChesterCity74,600 GBP79,800 GBP33,600-118,900 GBP
TruroCity72,800 GBP76,900 GBP32,200-114,900 GBP
WinchesterCity72,700 GBP79,600 GBP33,000-115,600 GBP
SalisburyCity72,700 GBP79,800 GBP34,000-116,400 GBP
WellsCity72,700 GBP79,800 GBP34,000-116,400 GBP
KirkwallCity72,400 GBP78,700 GBP35,300-117,100 GBP
RiponCity72,400 GBP77,300 GBP32,600-116,400 GBP
DerryCity72,300 GBP78,700 GBP35,300-117,100 GBP
Northern IrelandRegion72,000 GBP80,200 GBP31,700-114,300 GBP
StrontianCity72,000 GBP80,200 GBP35,500-114,300 GBP
WakefieldCity70,500 GBP78,900 GBP32,600-116,400 GBP
St DavidsCity70,100 GBP71,900 GBP32,200-109,000 GBP
InvernessCity69,800 GBP76,900 GBP32,200-114,900 GBP
StromnessCity69,800 GBP73,800 GBP30,200-108,200 GBP
BangorCity69,200 GBP73,300 GBP31,400-108,200 GBP

Airline Copilot in United Kingdom: FAQs

  • How much does an airline copilot make per month in United Kingdom?

    An airline copilot in United Kingdom earns about 6,633 GBP a month before tax, based on an annual average of 79,600 GBP.

  • What's the salary range for an airline copilot in United Kingdom?

    Entry-level airline copilots in United Kingdom start near 36,800 GBP. Top-end pay reaches around 127,700 GBP. The middle 50% of earners sit between 54,200 and 116,400 GBP.

  • Is the median airline copilot salary in United Kingdom higher or lower than the average?

    The median is 85,500 GBP, higher than the average of 79,600 GBP. Half of airline copilots in United Kingdom earn below the median, half earn above it.

  • What's the gender pay gap for airline copilots in United Kingdom?

    Men working as an airline copilot in United Kingdom earn around 5% more than women on average (82,300 vs 78,100 GBP a year).

  • Do airline copilots in United Kingdom get bonuses?

    About 87% of airline copilots in United Kingdom reported a bonus in the past 12 months. Reported bonuses ranged from 5% to 9% of base salary.

  • Do airline copilots earn more in the public or private sector in United Kingdom?

    In United Kingdom, the public sector pays an airline copilot about 7% more on average. Public-sector pay tends to be steadier; private-sector pay tends to offer bigger upside.

  • How often do airline copilots in United Kingdom get a pay raise?

    An airline copilot in United Kingdom sees a raise of around 12% every 15 months, equivalent to roughly 10% a year.