Pilot Salary Structure In Nigeria Currently (2025)

Ever wondered what the salary of pilots are in Nigeria presently? In this post we shall discuss all that and give you the breakdown of what pilots earn per month in Nigeria this 2025.

It is the dream of many people to become a pilot in the country but not many people go on to live that dream. The ones who eventually do get paid interesting salaries and the hard work they put in to become the pilot they are today is recognized and reflected in their salary structure.

The cost of being a pilot in Nigeria is on the high side and it is rare to hear people say that they want to go and study to become a pilot in the country, this is also partly due to the fact people are conditioned in this part of the world to revere medicine and surgery and other courses that are associated with it, along with law and engineering as their dream courses.

Studying to become a pilot however, is really very good as it opens you up to new things and the profession gives you exposure to different people and culture as you travel from one part of the country to another or one part of the world to another, and they pay that comes with it is very attractive.

Pilot salary in Nigeria is among the highest in the country, effectively making the job of a pilot one of the highest paying jobs in Nigeria today. Pilots in the country are very well respected and like medicine and surgery, it takes great effort to study and successfully become one in Nigeria.

If you want to become a pilot in Nigeria, be informed that the fees are quite expensive and that getting into pilot schools in the country is really competitive. This is not to scare you but to help prepare your mind for the task ahead which if you scale through, will be worth it in the end.

The course requires the best minds considering how important human lives are and merely graduating from aeronautic school may just not be enough but it is an important first step, after which you must make sure to get a licence as a qualified pilot before you are recognized as one.

All these require money but most importantly, it requires a person who is willing to learn so that he or she can be trusted with the job of safely transporting human lives from one place to another. Even if pilots only work at airports, their profession is very wide and it has a lot of specializations as we shall see in the breakdown of their salary structure.

PILOTS SALARY IN NIGERIA 2025: HOW MUCH ARE PILOTS PAID PER MONTH? 

The average salary that a pilot in Nigeria earns per month this 2025 is just over ₦500,000. This salary may start at just over ₦200,000 and can be as high as over ₦800,000. This monthly take home pay may include benefits such as housing, transport, to mention but a few. Nigerian pilot monthly earnings are based on experience, skills, gender, etc.

However, entry level pilots in Nigeria are paid a basic salary of ₦200,000 this 2025 irrespective of their position, grade or level of experience. Fixed wing pilots earn generally lower than rotary pilots and most pilots start their careers as fixed wing pilots in order to gain experience after which they become captains and make the switch to rotary pilots for better pay.

It is essential to discuss the concept of fixed wing and rotary pilots for better understanding. Pilots are divided into two main categories: the fixed wing pilots and the rotary wing pilots. A fixed-wing aircraft is a flying machine, such as an aeroplane, which is capable of flight using wings that generate lift caused by the aircraft’s forward airspeed and the shape of the wings. Pilots who fly these types of aircraft are called fixed wing pilots.

A rotary-wing aircraft on the other hand, is a heavier-than-air machine that uses wings generated by the rotary wings that revolve around a mast. Examples include helicopters, autogyros and gyrodines. Pilots that fly these types of aircrafts are known as rotary wing pilots. Many aircraft companies pay in US Dollars and this has been the norm since 2018.

Pilots in oil and gas companies such as Shell and Chevron are paid a salary in the range between about $10,000 – $25,000 monthly and when converted to our local currency, we are talking about over ₦3 million – ₦7 million per month.

Pilots working at oil and gas companies earn higher than those working for airway companies. The salary of pilots is dependent on their experience, type ratings, rank, flying hours and other basic factors. Having stated that, we shall now focus on how much pilots in various type ratings are paid per month.

COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENCE

Entry level pilots with a Commercial Pilot License from the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, NCAA are paid a salary in the range of ₦350,000 – ₦1,000,000 monthly and this depends on the airline, job description and agreement. A job without type rating can be challenging at times.

FIRST OFFICER

First Officer pilots in Nigeria are paid a salary between ₦800,000 – ₦3,000,000 per month. Payment depends on the airline, flying hours, and work conditions. The first officer stage is the first stage after type rating.

THE AUTHORITY

The Authority also known as the Captain on the aircraft is paid a monthly salary in the range between ₦1,500,000 – ₦5,000,000. Their monthly salary is dependent on the type of airline, the total flying hours, and their working conditions.

Pilots who fly local airlines are paid close to ₦800,000 per month while those who fly international airlines are paid a salary in the region of ₦2 million per month.

CONCLUSION

Flying an aircraft is not easy at all and it is why pilots earn hefty sums per month with bonuses as well. Also, considering the amount of training put in to become a pilot and the money involved in going to school to be licensed as one, it then comes as no surprise why those who become successful get paid really attractive sums as salaries every month.