What does a pilot earn in SA?

Entry first officers earn R35 000–R60 000/month. Airline captains can exceed R180 000/month.

Is being a pilot a good career?

High earning potential, but training is expensive (R800k–R1.5m) and entry can be slow.

Typically 18–24 months for CPL, plus hour-building before airline roles.

Yes - a CPL and ratings are required, not a university degree.

SAA, FlySafair, Airlink, CemAir, charter operators and increasingly Middle East airlines.

Loading salary insights…

Career & salary intelligence for South Africa.

Explore

Get salary alerts for high-paying jobs in SA

Be notified when roles paying R80k+ are available

See which careers are rising this month