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How much does an airline pilot earn in Sweden?

Aircraft pilots and related associate professionals. 1,200 people employed in Sweden.

70,700SEK

per month is the median salary for an airline pilot in Sweden in 2025. That is 85% higher than the median across all jobs in the country, 38,300 SEK.

≈ €6,250 / $7,300 at September 2026 exchange rates, before tax.

That is roughly 49,334 SEK after tax in an average municipality, without the church fee.

In 2025, an airline pilot in Sweden earned an average of 76,200 SEK per month. The median salary is 70,700 SEK.

Figures are gross monthly salary before tax, converted to full time. Income tax in Sweden is roughly 30–34% for most earners, plus a national surtax on income above about 51,000 SEK a month.

Average pay
76,200 SEK
Mean gross monthly salary
Highest 10%
115,400 SEK
Earn more than this
People employed
1,200
In this job in Sweden

The group consists mainly of airline pilots, but also includes other aircraft operators such as helicopter pilots and flight instructors. The job requires a pilot licence for the type of flying involved, issued by the Swedish Transport Agency, and a valid medical certificate. Training takes place at flight schools, and an airline pilot programme is also offered within the university system. Pay depends on the type of airline and aircraft, on rank as first officer or captain, and on experience.

Pay in the private and public sector

What aircraft pilots and related associate professionals earn depends a great deal on who the employer is.

Monthly salary by sector and gender
Sector Average pay Median pay Men Women
All sectors 76,200 SEK 70,700 SEK 72,500 SEK –
Private sector 72,800 SEK 59,800 SEK 59,900 SEK –
Public sector 84,800 SEK 88,100 SEK 90,000 SEK 56,600 SEK
Central government 84,800 SEK 88,100 SEK 90,000 SEK 56,600 SEK

Salary after tax

What aircraft pilots and related associate professionals actually take home depends on which municipality they live in. Between the cheapest and the most expensive one the difference is several hundred kronor a month.

That is roughly 49,334 SEK after tax in an average municipality, without the church fee.

  • The youngest in the job, aged 25–34 years, earn 57,900 SEK before tax — roughly 43,276 SEK after.
  • The best paid 10% earn more than 115,400 SEK, which is roughly 70,490 SEK after tax.

Calculate the salary after tax for an airline pilot

The figures assume an average municipality, no church fee and an age under 66. The calculator takes your own municipality into account.

And if the job goes? Work out unemployment benefit for an airline pilot

Pay by age

Pay for aircraft pilots and related associate professionals normally rises with years in the job.

Monthly salary by age
Age 40,000 120,000 Average pay Men Women Number
25–34 years 57,900 SEK 58,400 SEK – 260
35–44 years 63,800 SEK 63,900 SEK – 330
45–54 years 85,700 SEK 85,800 SEK – 340
55–64 years 99,100 SEK 98,600 SEK – 270

Pay by level of education

Monthly salary by level of education
Level of education 40,000 120,000 Average pay Men Women Number
Post-secondary education, less than 3 years (ISCED97 4+5B) 75,500 SEK 76,100 SEK – 570
Post-secondary education 3 years or more (ISCED97 5A) 88,100 SEK 89,300 SEK – 270

Pay by region

Statistics Sweden reports pay by job at the level of national areas (NUTS 2), not by county.

Monthly salary by region
Region 40,000 120,000 Average pay Men Women Number
Stockholm 79,700 SEK 80,400 SEK – 880

Pay growth 2014–2025

Median salary per year. Years with no reported median are skipped. The dashed line marks the break between the older and the newer series at Statistics Sweden; comparisons across it should be made with care.

From 68,000 SEK in 2014 to 70,700 SEK in 2025, +4% in total. Nominal figures, not adjusted for inflation. The lighter part of the line, the years before 2023, comes from an older set of statistics at Statistics Sweden and is not fully comparable with the later years.

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Swedish job titles in this occupation

Statistics Sweden files the following Swedish job titles under SSYK 3153, “piloter m.fl.”. These are the titles you will actually meet in Swedish job ads.

  • Astronaut
  • Aviatör
  • Ballongflygare
  • Chefspilot
  • Drönaroperatör
  • Drönarpilot
  • Flygförare
  • Flyginstruktör
  • Flygkapten
  • Flyglärare
  • Flygnavigatör
  • Flygstyrman
  • Helikopterförare
  • Helikopterpilot
  • Pilot
  • Provflygare
  • Styrman, flyg
  • Trafikflygare

Frequently asked questions

What is the median salary for an airline pilot in Sweden?

The median salary for an airline pilot in Sweden is 70,700 SEK per month before tax (2025). That means half earn less and half earn more. The median across all jobs in Sweden is 38,300 SEK, so aircraft pilots and related associate professionals sit 85% higher than the typical job.

How much does an airline pilot earn after tax?

The median salary for an airline pilot is 70,700 SEK a month before tax. In an average Swedish municipality, without the church fee and for someone under 66, that works out at roughly 49,334 SEK after tax. The exact figure depends on which municipality you live in — our salary-after-tax calculator works it out.

What is the difference between average and median pay for aircraft pilots and related associate professionals?

The average (76,200 SEK) is the mean of every salary and is pulled upwards by the highest earners. The median (70,700 SEK) is the salary in the middle of the scale and usually gives a better picture of what aircraft pilots and related associate professionals typically earn.

What is the starting salary for an airline pilot in Sweden?

Statistics Sweden does not publish starting salaries as such. The closest figure is the youngest people in the job: aircraft pilots and related associate professionals aged 25–34 years earn 57,900 SEK per month on average.

How high can the salary go for aircraft pilots and related associate professionals?

The highest-paid 10% in the job earn more than 115,400 SEK per month. Pay is shaped by sector, experience, level of education and where in the country you work.

Where in Sweden does an airline pilot earn the most?

Pay is highest in Stockholm, where aircraft pilots and related associate professionals earn 79,700 SEK per month on average.

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