Qatar Airways pilot recruitment

Pay and conditions, as pilots report them

Figures reported by pilots, not confirmed by the airline, each one dated (last update: October 2026). For information only.

• Captain: about QAR 32,550 basic salary a month in year 1, up to about QAR 54,130 in year 15 (May 2026 scale); with allowances, about $17,000 a month to start and up to $24,000 when declining company housing, for 75 flying hours (August 2025). No pay rise for almost 11 years according to pilots.
• First officer: about QAR 22,575 basic a month to start, about QAR 38,100 with allowances; senior first officer up to about QAR 30,340 basic, about QAR 45,900 a month (May 2026). No income tax in Qatar; the riyal is pegged to the dollar.
• Monthly allowances: housing QAR 13,000 (15,000 for a captain), transport QAR 2,000 (2,500), utilities QAR 500; children's schooling covered.
• Flight pay: about QAR 140 per block hour for a captain, QAR 105 for a first officer (121 in relief); about 900 hours a year at most in 2026, 75 a month on average. Layover allowances described as low (2025).
• Pension: end-of-service benefit under Qatari law, or a savings plan (Zurich) with 12% of basic salary from the airline for the first 5 years, 13% for the next 5, 15% after; the pilot pays at least 5% (December 2025).
• Rosters: EASA flight time limitations applied, 75 hours a month on average, 12 to 14 days off a month, blocks of days off possible; no commuting rosters. Leave: 42 days (2023-2025).
• Staff travel: unlimited ID90 and ID50 tickets after 3 to 6 months for yourself and family, on Qatar Airways and most airlines; 15 buddy tickets a year (October 2026).
• Situation: pilot hiring paused, the airline is overstaffed for the flights it operates and growth is slow in the short term; no direct entry captains before late 2026. Senior first officer in 3 to 4 years, command in 9 to 10 years. About 100 second officers a year and cadets planned. Outlook described as neutral (May 2026).
• Selection: application and logbook, video interview and remote psychological assessment, then 2 days in Doha: introduction, 50-question ATPL exam, HR and pilot interview, group exercise, then simulator (August 2025).

Reports published on pilotjobsnetwork.com