Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers salary in London
Full-time average annual pay in London
£123,796
Based on ~10,000 employees · 2025 · moderate suppression
Median
£123,796
Mean
£140,152
| Statistic | Annual pay (gross) |
|---|---|
| Median | £123,796 |
| Mean | £140,152 |
The pay range is withheld at region level for this role. See full methodology →
Skilled Worker visa minimum
£80,400
Understanding Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers pay in London
The typical aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers in London earns a median salary of £123,796 in 2025/26, based on around 10,000 employees — 14.9% (£16,084) above the UK-wide median of £107,712. 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.
Across the UK, London ranks 1st of 9 regions for aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers pay. Regional medians run from £72,472 in North East up to £123,796 in London, a spread of £51,324 (71%).
The mean (average) salary is higher, at £140,152. When the mean sits above the median like this, a smaller group of high earners pulls the average up, which is why the median is the better guide to what a typical aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers in London actually earns.
To see what £123,796 means after income tax and National Insurance, use the take-home pay calculator below — it also factors in student loan repayments.
Take-home pay estimate
Tax year 2025/26| Monthly | Annual | |
|---|---|---|
| Gross salary | £10,316 | £123,796 |
| Income tax | £3,079 | £36,950 |
| National Insurance | £374 | £4,487 |
| Take-home pay | £6,863 | £82,359 |
Estimate only · 2025/26 HMRC rates · Standard tax code · No pension contribution · Not financial or tax advice
How Aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers 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 (current region) | £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 (current region) £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.
How aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers pay in London has changed over time
Median annual pay for aircraft pilots and air traffic controllers in London by year, shown against the UK-wide median (Source: ONS ASHE). The shaded band is the UK-wide 25th–75th percentile range — ONS does not publish percentile ranges at region level.
London median
UK median
Pre-2021 figures mapped from SOC 2010 via ONS concordance table
How the figures are sourced
Data sources: Official UK earnings data (2025 provisional)(opens in new tab)