Pilots in Canada earn between CAD $35,000 and $350,000+ per year depending on their role, carrier, and seniority.
A newly licensed flight instructor earns approximately CAD $35,000 to $55,000 annually while building flight hours. A senior Air Canada captain on a wide-body Boeing 787 earns CAD $286,000 to $350,000 in base pay, before per diem and allowances.
The wide range in how much pilots make in Canada reflects one core truth: pilot pay scales steeply with experience, seniority, and aircraft type. The career is low-paid at the start and high-paid at the top.
Canada’s ongoing pilot shortage in 2026 has accelerated salary growth across all operator classes. Air Canada’s 2024 ALPA collective agreement delivered an immediate 26% pay increase. WestJet’s 2024 agreement added a 15.5% retroactive increase plus further annual raises totaling 24% over 4 years.
What Is the Average Pilot Salary in Canada in 2026?
The average pilot salary in Canada is CAD $93,830 to $97,544 per year in 2026, based on combined data from Indeed and Glassdoor. Talent.com reports a median of CAD $97,500 annually, or CAD $50 per hour.
Canada’s Government of Canada Job Bank reports that the general hourly pay scale for professional pilots peaks at CAD $100 per hour for experienced airline captains, and sits at approximately CAD $25 to $30 per hour for entry-level roles.
4 factors determine where a pilot lands within this range: operator class (702 through 705), seat (First Officer or Captain), years of seniority at the airline, and aircraft type.
How Much Do Pilots Make in Canada by Role and Career Stage?
Flight Instructor Salary in Canada
Flight instructors earn CAD $25 to $90 per flight hour, depending on their instructor class. Transport Canada issues 4 instructor classes: Class 4, Class 3, Class 2, and Class 1.
Class 4 instructors: newly certified, earn CAD $25–$30 per flight hour. Annual earnings typically reach $35,000–$45,000 working full-time at an active Flight Training Unit (FTU).
Class 3 instructors: earn CAD $30–$35 per flight hour. Most instructors reach Class 3 within 12 months.
Class 2 instructors: earn CAD $35–$50 per hour. Can train Class 4 instructors and fly multi-engine aircraft.
Class 1 instructors: the highest class. Freelance Class 1 instructors earn CAD $80–$90 per flight hour with private students.
Bush and Charter Pilot Salary in Canada
Bush and charter pilots—classified under CARs 702 and 703 operators—earn CAD $40,000 to $104,000 per year, depending on the aircraft type and whether the pilot holds a Captain or First Officer seat.
- 702 operators (aerial surveys, banner towing, medivac on small aircraft): CAD $300–$500 per week at survey companies (seasonal). Salary roles start around $40,000–$55,000 annually.
- 703 Air Taxi (PC-12, King Air, medivac): First Officers earn CAD $38,000–$45,000. Captains earn CAD $90,000–$104,000.
- Northern cargo and remote charter (Bearskin Airlines, Air Tindi, Wasaya Airways): First Officers earn CAD $40,000–$55,000. Captains earn CAD $90,000–$95,000.
Regional Airline Pilot Salary in Canada
Regional airlines—classified as CARs 704 operators flying aircraft with fewer than 20 seats, such as the DHC-8 Dash-8 and ATR 42—pay CAD $42,000 to $150,000 per year, split between First Officers and Captains.
- Regional First Officers (Jazz Aviation, WestJet Encore, Pacific Coastal, Central Mountain Air): starting salary CAD $42,000–$67,000. WestJet Encore First Officers start at CAD $67,000 in Year 1.
- Regional Captains: starting salary CAD $76,000–$95,000. Experienced regional captains top out at CAD $140,000–$150,000.
Major Airline First Officer Salary in Canada
First Officers at Canada’s CARs 705 major carriers—Air Canada, WestJet, Porter Airlines, and Air Transat—earn CAD $75,000 to $190,000 per year, depending on the airline, aircraft type, and years of seniority.
- Air Canada First Officers: Year 1 earns CAD $85,000. Year 5 earns CAD $135,000. Top FO scale reaches CAD $155,000.
- WestJet First Officers: Year 1 earns CAD $75,000. Year 5 earns CAD $118,000. Top FO scale reaches CAD $135,000.
- Porter Airlines First Officers: earn CAD $75,000–$120,000 operating Embraer E2 and DeHavilland Dash-8 aircraft.
Major airline First Officer pay is calculated on a minimum monthly guarantee of 75 block hours at the applicable hourly rate. Pilots who fly more than 75 hours per month receive overtime at 150% of their base hourly rate.
Airline Captain Salary in Canada
Captains at Canada’s major 705 operators earn CAD $180,000 to $350,000+ per year, with Air Canada’s senior 787 captains reaching the top of the Canadian pay scale.
Air Canada Captains: Year 10 earns CAD $240,000. Year 20 earns CAD $295,000. Senior 787 Captains earn CAD $286,000+ in gross base pay before per diem and allowances.
WestJet Captains: Year 10 earns CAD $215,000. Year 20 earns CAD $255,000. Senior 787 Captains exceed CAD $310,000 with allowances.
Cargo Captains (FedEx Canada, Cargojet): top out at approximately CAD $205,000. First Officers start at CAD $72,000, rising to $122,000.
Quick-Reference Table: Pilot Salary by Role, Level, and Carrier in Canada (2026)
The table below shows pilot salary ranges in Canada across all major roles and career stages for 2026.
| Role / Carrier | Seat | Starting Salary (CAD) | Senior / Top Salary (CAD) | Operator Class |
| Flight Instructor (Class 4) | Instructor | $35,000–$45,000/yr | $50,000–$55,000/yr | N/A |
| Flight Instructor (Class 1) | Instructor | $50,000/yr | Up to $90/hr freelance | N/A |
| Aerial Survey / Charter (703) | First Officer | $38,000–$42,000/yr | $45,000/yr | CAR 703 |
| Medivac Captain (PC-12/King Air) | Captain | $90,000/yr | $104,000/yr | CAR 703 |
| Regional Airline FO (Dash-8) | First Officer | $42,000–$67,000/yr | $80,000–$77,000/yr | CAR 704/705 |
| Regional Captain (Jazz, Encore) | Captain | $76,000–$95,000/yr | $140,000–$150,000/yr | CAR 704/705 |
| Air Canada First Officer | First Officer | $85,000/yr (Year 1) | $155,000/yr (top scale) | CAR 705 |
| Air Canada Captain | Captain | $180,000/yr | $286,000–$350,000+/yr | CAR 705 |
| WestJet First Officer | First Officer | $75,000/yr (Year 1) | $135,000/yr (top scale) | CAR 705 |
| WestJet Captain | Captain | $165,000/yr | $310,000+/yr (787) | CAR 705 |
| Cargo Captain (Cargojet) | Captain | $127,000/yr | $205,000/yr | CAR 705 |
How Much Do Pilots Make in Canada at Air Canada vs WestJet?
Air Canada Pilot Pay by Year of Seniority
To understand Air Canada pilot pay, you need to look at the seniority ladder across a full career. Air Canada guarantees 75 block hours per month as a minimum credit, with overtime paid above that threshold.
- Year 1 First Officer: CAD $85,000 per year base pay. Aircraft type: Airbus A220 or Boeing 737 MAX on domestic routes.
- Year 5 First Officer: CAD $135,000 per year. Eligible for widebody long-haul flying on Boeing 787 or 777 as seniority grows.
- Year 10 Captain: CAD $240,000 per year. Typically commands narrowbody Airbus A319/A320/A321 or Boeing 737 MAX.
- Year 20 Captain: CAD $295,000 per year. Commands widebody 787-9 or 777-300ER on long-haul international routes.
- Senior 787/777 Captain (peak): CAD $286,000–$350,000+ per year in gross pay. Hourly rate reaches CAD $390 per hour on the Boeing 787.
Air Canada pilots also access a Defined Contribution pension with company match, a Deferred Profit Sharing Plan (DPSP), and a variable incentive plan. Per diem allowances on layovers add CAD $5,000 to $15,000 annually depending on international route volume. Explore WCC’s aviation programs at WCC to understand the training pipeline that leads to Air Canada-standard qualifications.
WestJet Pilot Pay by Year of Seniority
To understand WestJet pilot pay, you apply the same seniority structure. WestJet’s 2024 ALPA agreement closed much of the historical pay gap with Air Canada.
- Year 1 First Officer: CAD $75,000 per year on the Boeing 737 MAX. WestJet’s primary narrowbody fleet covers domestic Canada and short-haul US transborder routes.
- Year 5 First Officer: CAD $118,000 per year. Eligible for widebody assignments on Boeing 787-9.
- Year 10 Captain: CAD $215,000 per year on 737 MAX. 787 captains reach CAD $250,000–$310,000.
- Year 20 Captain: CAD $255,000 per year on narrowbody. 787 senior captains exceed CAD $310,000 with allowances.
What Is the Total Compensation Package for Canadian Pilots?
Base salary represents only part of what pilots make in Canada. Total compensation at major 705 carriers typically runs 20% to 40% above base pay when all additional income components are included.
5 components build the full pilot compensation package at Canadian major carriers:
- Base salary / hourly rate: calculated on minimum monthly credit hours (75 at Air Canada, 77.5 at WestJet). Any hours above the minimum credit earn overtime at 150% of the base hourly rate.
- Per diem allowances: daily meal and incidental allowances on layovers. Rates vary by destination. Domestic layovers pay approximately CAD $50–$80 per day. International layovers pay CAD $80–$150 per day.
- Profit sharing: Air Canada and WestJet both distribute a percentage of annual profits to pilots. Amounts vary but have reached CAD $5,000–$20,000 in strong financial years.
- Pension: Air Canada pilots access a Defined Contribution plan. WestJet’s plan includes a 10% employer contribution. Long-service captains accumulate pension assets worth CAD $2M to $4M over a full career.
- Travel benefits: pilots and eligible family members receive free or deeply discounted standby travel on their airline and partner carriers worldwide. This benefit has a real cash value of CAD $5,000–$15,000 per year for active travellers.
Cargo pilots at operators including Cargojet receive additional weight pay—a supplement for flights carrying heavy payloads above a specified maximum—that can add CAD $10,000 to $25,000 annually to base earnings.
How Province and Location Affect Pilot Pay in Canada
Pilot base pay follows airline collective agreements regardless of province. An Air Canada captain earns the same hourly rate flying from Toronto (YYZ) as from Vancouver (YYR). However, location affects total compensation in 3 practical ways.
- Cost of living against net pay: Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut bases offer the highest quality-of-life return because housing costs are lower relative to pilot salaries. Glassdoor confirms pilots in Alberta earn above the national average. Ontario bases (Toronto YYZ) offer the most flights and faster hour accumulation but carry higher living costs.
- Provincial income tax rates: pilots based in British Columbia pay a top marginal rate of 53.5%. Alberta pilots pay approximately 48% (no provincial sales tax and lower provincial income rates). Over a captain’s career, Alberta-based pilots retain more after-tax income on the same gross salary.
- Northern flying allowances: pilots on northern routes for operators including First Air, Canadian North, and Air Inuit receive remote allowances and northern living supplements that add CAD $5,000–$20,000 annually above standard rates.
WCC’s aviation training campus sits in Abbotsford, British Columbia—giving graduates direct access to Air Canada and WestJet Vancouver (YVR) base hiring pipelines, one of the busiest in Canada. The PPL program at WCC builds the foundation for this career pathway.
What Is the Return on Investment for Pilot Training in Canada?
Total pilot training in Canada costs CAD $60,000 to $100,000 from zero hours through to an ATPL-ready CPL with instrument, multi-engine, and night ratings. The payback timeline depends on how quickly you reach major airline pay scales.
3 ROI scenarios show the typical payback ranges:
- Instructor route (fastest hour-build, lower early income): invest CAD $80,000 in training. Earn $40,000/yr as Class 4 instructor for 2 years. Reach regional FO at $55,000/yr. Reach major airline FO at $85,000/yr in Year 5. Training cost recovered within 6 to 7 years of first job.
- Northern charter route (faster hours, moderate income): invest CAD $80,000. Earn $42,000/yr as 703 FO for 18 months. Reach regional captain at $90,000/yr in Year 3. Reach major airline FO at $85,000/yr in Year 5. Training cost recovered within 5 to 6 years.
- Direct airline cadet program (slowest start, best long-term outcome): Air Canada and WestJet cadet programs provide mentorship and preferential hiring. Cadets often reach major airline FO status faster than independent hour-builders due to structured mentoring.
A pilot who reaches Air Canada captain in Year 10 at CAD $240,000 per year earns CAD $2.4M over 10 captain years before retiring at age 65. The initial training cost of CAD $80,000 to $100,000 represents approximately 4 to 5 months of peak captain salary.
WCC’s commercial pilot diploma combines PPL, CPL, and Transport Canada-standard flight training at the Abbotsford FTU. Installment-based tuition and flexible scheduling—including part-time and weekend options—let you begin training without deferring your current income.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pilot Salaries in Canada
Do Canadian pilots earn more than the national average salary?
Yes. The national average salary in Canada is approximately CAD $60,000 per year. The average pilot salary of CAD $93,000 to $97,000 sits 55% to 60% above the national average. Senior airline captains at Air Canada earn 4 to 5 times the national average.
Is the Air Canada pilot salary higher than WestJet’s?
Yes, at the senior level. Air Canada senior 787 captains earn CAD $286,000 to $350,000+, while WestJet’s 787 captains top out at approximately CAD $310,000. At the First Officer level, the gap is smaller: Air Canada Year 1 FOs earn CAD $85,000 vs. WestJet’s CAD $75,000. WestJet’s 10% employer pension contribution partly offsets the lower base pay at junior levels.
How much does a newly licensed commercial pilot make in Canada?
A newly licensed Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) holder in Canada earns between CAD $35,000 and $45,000 per year as a Class 4 flight instructor, which is the most common first job. Pilots who move directly into 703 charter operations can earn $38,000 to $42,000 as First Officers. Starting salaries rise to $67,000 to $85,000 per year when pilots reach regional or major airline First Officer seats.
Do pilots in Canada get paid for time on the ground?
Yes. Major airline collective agreements guarantee a minimum monthly credit of 75 block hours at the pilot’s applicable hourly rate. This guarantee pays pilots even in months where actual flying falls below 75 hours. Pilots also receive per diem payments during layovers, covering meals and incidentals at daily rates of CAD $50 to $150 depending on destination.
Does the pilot shortage in Canada increase salaries?
Yes. The 2024 ALPA collective agreements at Air Canada and WestJet directly reflected pilot shortage bargaining power. Air Canada pilots received an immediate 26% pay increase. WestJet pilots received a 15.5% retroactive increase plus further annual raises totaling 24% over 4 years. Regional carriers in 2026 also pay above pre-shortage rates to compete for fewer qualified pilots.
Start Training for a Pilot Career That Pays
Pilots in Canada earn CAD $35,000 at the start and CAD $350,000+ at the peak of the same career path. The curve is steep—and the journey from CPL to Air Canada captain takes 4 to 8 years depending on how quickly you build hours.
WCC’s Transport Canada-approved Flight Training Unit in Abbotsford, British Columbia, trains PPL and CPL candidates on Cessna 172 aircraft with certified instructors. The commercial pilot diploma program offers installment-based tuition, flexible full-time and part-time scheduling, and PGWP eligibility for international students. Contact an admissions advisor today to review your eligibility and receive a current program cost breakdown.
