Singapore Airlines Pilot Salary for 2024

Singapore Airlines (SQ), the flag carrier of the Republic of Singapore, is one of the world’s most premium airlines, offering an unrivalled passenger experience.

SQ is the preferred airline for the majority of travelers in and around Asia, and with connections to most major destinations around the world, it is also one of the most popular airlines to fly today.

With a fleet characterized by heavy bodies, including the massive Airbus A380, many pilots regard a spell with Singapore Airlines as the pinnacle of their careers. The Temasek Holdings-owned operator employs thousands of aviators from all over the world and offers some of the industry’s best and most well-known benefits.

Here is everything you need to know about Singapore Airlines pilots’ remuneration.

Singapore Airlines Pilot Salary

Singapore Airlines operates a cadet pilot academy as well as a direct admission pilot program. The carrier has a large number of second officers as well given their frequent and long-haul operations to cities in Europe, New Zealand, and the United States. The following is a breakdown of pilot wages by grade level.

Second officers

Singapore Airlines employs the most junior grade of pilots, known as second officers. In most cases, they are recent graduates of the carrier’s cadet programs.

They are rarely involved in taking off and landing planes, but rather act as standby pilots, accumulating flying hours under the careful eyes of captains and first officers before progressing to the next level.

During their rest intervals, this group of pilots primarily sits in the captain’s or first officer’s seats, interacting with air traffic control and making modest modifications to flight routing, altitude, and other parameters.

Second officers are paid between SG$ 75,000 and SG$ 90,000, depending on their performance in flying school and previous experience.

Notably, second officers at SQ are required to sign a seven-year bond because the airline invests heavily on their type ratings and training for first officer positions.

First officers

A first officer of Singapore Airlines is responsible for being the captain’s right-hand man, assisting with communication and safety protocols, and occasionally flying the aircraft. If the captain is resting, the first officer takes over as the cockpit crew’s leader and makes decisions about navigation.

First officers at Singapore Airlines earn between SG$ 120,000 and SG$ 180,000 per year in base compensation, which is proportionate with the type of aircraft they fly and their expertise.

All first officers are paid SG$82 each flying hour, however unlike many other airlines worldwide, SQ does not give its pilots with a minimum guarantee over a set period of time.

However, even their base salaries are industry-leading, and pilot morale at the airline is quite good due to a reasonable number of flying hours being rostered.

Captains

The captains are in charge of everything from the plane’s pushback to landing and whether it is safely parked at their destination.

They are in command of the aircraft and supervise the cockpit and cabin crew members. Captains are responsible for making emergency decisions, flight planning, and managing their crew members on board.

Singapore Airlines offers their captains a basic wage ranging from SG$ 250,000 to SG$ 350,000 per year. This pay, like that of first officers, is determined on the type of aircraft flown and an individual’s experience; however, captains are paid SG$125 for each flying hour. Captains also have no certainty of a minimum quantity of flying hours over a set time frame.

Singapore’s captain pay are among the highest in the world, surpassing only by a small number of carriers, primarily in the Arab region.

Benefits to Singapore Airlines Pilots

In addition to very competitive monetary remuneration, Singapore Airlines pilots are eligible for a slew of industry-leading benefits. Some of them are listed below.

1. INSURANCE COVERAGE – Singapore Airlines provides comprehensive medical insurance to its pilots, including global coverage for themselves and their families. Pilots are also covered with life insurance to safeguard the well-being of their family members in the event of death on the job or an injury that prevents them from continuing to work.
2. RETIREMENT SCHEME – Singapore Airlines assists pilots with retirement preparation training, the majority of which focus on financial management. In addition, the corporation and the pilot can agree to deposit a set sum to safeguard the individual’s future after their employment ends.
3. TRAVEL ALLOWANCE –Singapore Airlines pilots and their families receive a hefty travel allowance. SQ, Scoot, and Star Alliance partners provide discounted or complimentary premium class tickets. Pilots are also entitled to reduced stays at hotels with which SIA has associated.
4. HOUSING ALLOWANCE – Unlike Middle Eastern carriers, Singapore Airlines does not provide accommodation for its migrant pilots; nonetheless, an allowance is included in the compensation package to cover rental expenses and certain basic living expenditures.
5. CAREER DEVELOPMENT – If Singapore Airlines pilots want to continue working for the company after they retire, the airline prepares them to become fleet managers, pilot trainers, and so on.
6. PROFIT-SHARING –Singapore Airlines has a profit-sharing system for all of its employees based on their performance throughout a fiscal year. Since COVID, bonuses have increased tremendously, with the bulk of the airline’s employees receiving eight to nine months of their base salary.

What aircraft do SQ pilots fly?

Singapore Airlines operates the following fleet of aircraft.

• Airbus A350-900 – 58
• Airbus A350-900ULR – 7
• Airbus A380-800 – 12
• Boeing 737-800 – 7
• Boeing 737 MAX 8 – 16
• Boeing 777-300ER – 22
• Boeing 787-10 – 26
• Boeing 747-400F – 7
• Boeing 777F – 5

Singapore Airlines has also placed orders for additional Boeing 737 MAX 8s, Boeing 787-10s, Boeing 777-9s, and Airbus A350Fs.

How to become a Singapore Airlines pilot?

Singapore Airlines’ second officers are required to meet the following criteria.

• Possesses a valid Class 1 Medical Certificate, recognized or validated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS).
• Holds a valid Commercial Pilot Licence with Multi-Engine Aircraft Instrument Rating (CPL/MEIR) and a frozen ATPL or Multi Pilot Licence (MPL) recognized or validated by CAAS.If you have a foreign license, you can check your eligibility using this paper.
• Candidates must have at least 200 total flying hours as an airplane pilot (with a minimum of 100 PIC hours for international pilot license holders).
• Ability to speak and understand English with ICAO English Level 5 or higher for in-flight radio-telephony communications.
• GCE ‘A’ level / IB / IGCSE or equivalent, diploma or degree. Otherwise, you must have earned at least 5 GCE ‘O’ Level credits. These must comprise English, Mathematics, and a science course, taken in one sitting.
• Myopia of no more than 800 degrees and astigmatism of no more than 300 degrees, completely correctable with optical aids.
• The minimum height requirement for carrying out safety and emergency procedures on board is 1.62m.

Meanwhile, here are the requirements for first officers:

• possesses a current Class 1 Medical Certificate that the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has recognized or can verify.
• Holds a valid Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL), Commercial Pilot Licence with Multi-Engine Aircraft Instrument Rating (CPL/MEIR) with frozen ATPL, or Multi Pilot Licence (MPL) that CAAS recognizes or may validate. If you have a foreign license, you can check your eligibility using this paper.
• 1500 cumulative multi-crew flight hours on jet engine aircraft weighing more than 20 tonnes.Candidates with fewer than 1500 but more than 700 hours on these aircraft may be shortlisted based on merit and, if successful, may be required to complete a longer training program.
• Ability to speak and understand English with ICAO English Level 5 or higher for in-flight radio-telephony communications.
• The minimum height requirement for carrying out safety and emergency procedures on board is 1.62m.

Finally, captains need to fulfill the following criteria:

• Possesses a valid Class 1 Medical Certificate that has been recognized or approved by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore.
• Holds a valid Air Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) that has been recognized or verified by CAAS.If you have a foreign license, you can check your eligibility using this paper.
• Minimum of 7000 flying hours, including 3000 pilot-in-command (PIC) hours on commercial planes in international operations.
• Minimum of 7000 flying hours, including 3000 pilot-in-command (PIC) hours on commercial planes in international operations.
• The minimum height requirement for carrying out safety and emergency procedures on board is 1.62m.

Singapore Airlines pilot’s hiring process

SQ’s hiring process for pilots is as follows:

1. APPLICATION – Singapore Airlines accepts online applications for pilot positions, which are reviewed based on the aircraft’s specifications.
2. INTERVIEW –A basic interview follows, during which the pilot’s technical skills and experience in an airline environment are assessed.
3. OFFER – If a pilot passes the interview, an offer is issued contingent on the completion of background checks and the passing of a simulator test.

Singapore Airlines Pilot Salary FAQs