Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers salary in the UK (2025/26)
Official UK Average earnings data 2025
£107,712
Understanding Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers pay in the UK
The typical aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers in the UK earns a median salary of £107,712 in 2025/26. These figures come from the ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), so they reflect actual reported pay rather than self-reported estimates or job-advert ranges.
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £130,560. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners is pulling the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers actually takes home.
Where you work changes the picture: aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers pay ranges from £72,472 in North East up to £123,796 in London, a difference of £51,324 (71%). The full regional breakdown is below.
Dig deeper: see aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers pay in London or read how we source and check this data.
How pay varies by region
London is the highest-paying region for aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers at £123,796 — 15% above the UK median. North East is lowest at £72,472.
UK median £107,712
| Region | Median payUK median £107,712 | Median | Mean | vs UK median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £123,796 | £123,796 | £140,152 | +15% |
| Wales | £93,945 | £93,945 | £95,417 | -13% |
| South West | £89,199 | £89,199 | £95,656 | -17% |
| North West | £86,628 | £86,628 | £85,675 | -20% |
| East of England | £84,206 | £84,206 | £99,026 | -22% |
| Scotland | £83,364 | £83,364 | £92,430 | -23% |
| East Midlands | £81,387 | £81,387 | £90,927 | -24% |
| South East | £77,484 | £77,484 | £81,684 | -28% |
| North East | £72,472 | £72,472 | £80,002 | -33% |
| Region | Median | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| London £123,796 | £123,796Mean £140,152 | +15% |
| Wales £93,945 | £93,945Mean £95,417 | -13% |
| South West £89,199 | £89,199Mean £95,656 | -17% |
| North West £86,628 | £86,628Mean £85,675 | -20% |
| East of England £84,206 | £84,206Mean £99,026 | -22% |
| Scotland £83,364 | £83,364Mean £92,430 | -23% |
| East Midlands £81,387 | £81,387Mean £90,927 | -24% |
| South East £77,484 | £77,484Mean £81,684 | -28% |
| North East £72,472 | £72,472Mean £80,002 | -33% |
Sorted highest median to lowest. The vertical line marks the UK median (£107,712); ‘Vs UK median’ compares each region’s median to it. Suppressed values mean ONS withheld this figure because the sample was too small to publish.
Make it local
Calculate take-home pay for your region
Choose a region above to see local aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers pay and calculate your monthly take-home after tax on the local salary page.
Back to region listHow aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers pay has changed over time
UK median annual pay for aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers by year (ONS ASHE).
Median salary
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table