KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Pilot Salary in 2025

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AMSTERDAM- KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL), the flag carrier of the Netherlands, is best known for its incredible safety record as well as for being the world’s oldest airline. The Dutch operator was founded over 105 years ago and is presently parented by the Air France-KLM group, while being a member of the Skyteam alliance, the rival to Oneworld and Star Alliance.

At present, KLM flies to 145 cargo and passenger destinations from its operating base, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, and has a fleet of 110 aircraft. Thanks to its location in the centre of Europe, it is a gateway to several cities within the continent, alongside being able to provide seamless connections between Africa, Asia, North America and South America.

KLM currently has over 3,500 pilots on its payroll and has been acclaimed as the best European carrier for pilots to work at. Having said that, here is a look at the salaries, benefits, and hiring requirements which make. The Dutch airline is a pinnacle for several aviators.

Photo: KLM

KLM Pilot Salary

KLM First Officer Salary

KLM’s first officers are less experienced individuals or direct graduates from the KLM Flying Academy. They are the junior-most cockpit employees in the airline and depending on their flying hours, some work closely within the shadows of the operator’s senior captains to gain valuable experience, while those who have been associated for longer assist the captains in vital formalities like communication with ATC, navigation and conducting safety checks of the aircraft.

KLM first officers are paid a salary ranging from €3,300 to €5,500 per month (approx. US$3,500 to US$5,800) or between €39,600 and €66,000 annually (approx. US$41,500 to US$69,000). Once they complete the desired training, which in some cases can include type-rating, the amount increases to a range of up to €8,300 per month (approx. US$8,700) or €99,600 per year (approx. US$104,000).

The salary is largely dependent on factors such as the type of aircraft flown, flying hours per month and experience in the first officer position.

Photo: KLM

KLM Captain Salary

KLM’s captains are the senior-most members of the cockpit crew. Besides managing their co-pilot as well as the cabin crew, the senior-most personnel are also tasked with mentoring the airline’s junior crop of pilots. The captains are responsible for all the critical functions of the flight including decision-making over emergency situations and routings, to ensuring that a flight is completed safely and seamlessly from one point to another.

The commanders at KLM Royal Dutch Airlines are paid a salary starting from €12,500 per month (approx. US$13,000) to €20,000 per month (approx. US$21,000), which amounts to a range between €150,000 annually to €240,000 annually (approx. US$157,000 to US$250,000). As with first officers, this amount varies greatly depending on experience as well as seniority within the airline, the type of aircraft that is flown and the monthly amount of flying hours.

KLM, on its website, has advertised its pilot opportunities with a 40-hour timeframe although it remains to be seen whether that it weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Typically, pilots around the world are tasked with a minimum flying of 70 to 80 hours in a calendar month.

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Photo: KLM

Benefits for Flight Crew

Apart from a leading salary package, KLM pilots are offered the following benefits.

  • WORK-LIFE BALANCE – KLM prides itself on offering cockpit crew with an industry-leading work-life balance. Each Friday, rosters for the next four weeks are known to help in planning personal commitments better, while all pilots are also eligible for free public transport within the vicinity of Amsterdam as per this scheme.
  • ALLOWANCES – KLM pilots are offered additional monetary allowances over and above their salaries when on duty. The amount is not fixed but varies depending on the destination. This is typically in lieu of meals as well as transportation, though the latter is included to and from the airports as well.
  • PROFIT SHARING – KLM pays its pilots end of year bonuses. This amount depends on an individual’s performance, along with that of the airline in the financial period. Additionally, senior pilots also have the option to participate in a profit-sharing program with the carrier which can go up to 20% above the basic salary paid to them.
  • STAFF DISCOUNTS – KLM has staff discounts for all its pilots, subject to the availability of seats on the flight. This includes heavily reduced prices for premium cabins as well. Apart from the employees themselves, their immediate nominated family members are also eligible to benefit from this benefit.
  • DEALS AND DISCOUNTS – Through KLM’s partnership with some of the world’s leading holiday companies, hotel brands, restaurants, car rental companies, etc, pilots are able to leverage sizeable discounts on personal bookings as well. Likewise, their families can avail discounts on insurance policies whereas the aviators are provided with a comprehensive globally-valid package.
  • LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES – KLM has a range of courses available through an online platform which pilots can make use of. These are designed to make them more capable leaders and professionals, while some also equip them for office-based roles following retirement. Dutch language learning programs are available to expats too.
Photo: By Golfgenesis – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50647185

What aircraft do KLM pilots fly?

KLM operates a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft as of March 2025, which is as below:

  • Airbus A321neo – 4
  • Airbus A330-200 – 6
  • Airbus A330-300 – 5
  • Boeing 737-700 – 6
  • Boeing 737-800 – 31
  • Boeing 737-900 – 5
  • Boeing 777-200ER – 15
  • Boeing 777-300ER – 16
  • Boeing 787-9 – 13
  • Boeing 787-10 – 11

Additionally, the airline has the following planes on order.

  • Airbus A320neo and A321neo (shared with Transavia and Transavia France) – 76
  • Airbus A350-900 – 11
  • Airbus A350-1000 – 11
  • Boeing 787-10 – 4
Photo: KLM

Apart from the passenger planes, KLM’s fleet includes the below cargo jets.

  • Airbus A350F – 4 on order
  • Boeing 747-400BCF – 1
  • Boeing 747-400ERF – 3
Photo: KLM

How to become a pilot at KLM?

KLM requires its pilots to fulfil the following requirements.

  • Minimum higher general secondary education or equivalent foreign education with English, mathematics and physics;
  • Valid passport from an EU member state;
  • Swimming skills;
  • Height between 1.58 and 2.03 metres. No leg length measurement will take place.
  • Class I Medical
  • (Frozen) ATPL (A)
  • Initial CRM
  • LPE6
  • Multi Crew Cooperation Course
  • Upset Prevention and Recovery Training
  • PBN-annotation
  • At least 500 hours of experience on a multi-engine aircraft (5,700 kg or more),
  • At least 150 hours of the 500 hours must be flown in commercial aviation in the 12 months prior to the application.
Photo: KLM

Hiring Process for Pilots

KLM has the following six-step process for its pilots.

  1. CV REVIEW – Interested candidates can apply on the airline’s website by submitting their CV as well as other necessary documents.
  2. ONLINE ASSESSMENT – An online assessment is held for the shortlisted candidates in which their key abilities regarding the job are tested.
  3. PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT – The psychological assessment is designed to test an individual’s suitability towards the role and understand whether it aligns with the airline’s culture as well as requirement.
  4. SIMULATOR TEST – A flight simulator test is conducted by the airline to determine the pilot’s skills and understand if they are to suited to fly a plane in the carrier’s fleet.
  5. INTERVIEW – An interview is held between the qualified candidates and the selection committee to understand both parties personally before an offer is formally extended.
  6. SCREENINGS – KLM completes a vital screening for its shortlisted applicants. These checks include security and background screenings, medical tests and reference checks.

If a candidate successfully passes the six-step process, an offer is made to them.

Photo: KLM

KLM Pilot Salary FAQs

How much do KLM pilots get paid per annum?

KLM pilots are paid between €39,600 and €240,000 per year. Their experience, seniority, type of aircraft flown and flying hours are responsible for the variation.

Where are KLM’s pilots based?

KLM pilots must be based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, close to their operational base, Schiphol Airport. The airline also hires expatriates on the condition that they achieve A2 level of proficiency in the Dutch language within a year of joining.

Is KLM currently hiring pilots?

It is not known whether KLM is hiring pilots at present or not. The airline continuously invites applications on its websites and reaches out to candidates when requirements arise.

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