El Al Pilots Earn Salaries Rivaling Top International Carriers

Salaries for pilots at Israeli airline El Al are exceptionally high, rivaling those of pilots at major international carriers like Qatar Airways. According to industry estimates, captains at Qatar Airways can earn between 900,000 and 1.6 million Qatari riyals annually, translating to approximately 741,000 to 1.32 million Israeli shekels per year, or about 110,000 shekels monthly. First officers at the Qatari airline reportedly earn between 360,000 and 660,000 riyals annually, or 296,000 to 543,000 shekels.

El Al captains, on average, earn around 95,000 shekels per month. Younger captains at El Al earn between 90,000 and 110,000 shekels monthly, while very senior captains have previously earned up to 160,000 shekels per month. First officers at El Al also command high salaries, earning between 50,000 and 90,000 shekels monthly.

In addition to base salary, El Al pilots are eligible for bonuses and additional payments. For instance, in 2025, pilots received an average bonus of approximately 176,000 shekels. However, a significant difference exists in taxation: Qatar has no income tax on salaries, meaning the stated amounts are take-home pay. In Israel, El Al pilots are subject to income tax, so their gross salary is not their net income.

Despite the tax differences, the salary levels for El Al pilots, particularly senior captains, demonstrate the profession's high earning potential, even when compared to a major global airline like Qatar Airways.