EASA Part-66 Engineer Salary by Country (2026)

European Aviation Maintenance Industry Overview

Europe's aviation maintenance industry is one of the largest in the world, employing more than 200,000 aircraft maintenance professionals across the EASA member states. The European market is anchored by the major airline groups — Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, IAG (BA/Iberia), Ryanair, easyJet — and the world's biggest MROs, led by Lufthansa Technik. Industry bodies consistently report a shortage of licensed Part-66 engineers, which has pushed wages up across all sectors in recent years.

The key employers for Part-66 engineers in Europe include:

• Major airlines and groups — Lufthansa (Frankfurt, Munich), Air France-KLM (Paris, Amsterdam), IAG (London, Madrid), Ryanair (Dublin and 80+ bases), easyJet (Luton and bases across Europe), and the Scandinavian and Swiss carriers operate some of the largest maintenance bases in the world.
• MROs (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul providers) — Lufthansa Technik (Hamburg, Frankfurt), SR Technics (Zurich), AFI KLM E&M (Paris, Amsterdam), Sabena technics (Bordeaux, Brussels), HAECO Europe, and StandardAero provide line and heavy maintenance under Part-145 approvals.
• OEMs and manufacturers — Airbus (Toulouse, Hamburg, Bremen), Boeing (via European partners), Leonardo (Italy), Dassault (France), and the engine OEMs (Rolls-Royce, Safran, MTU, Pratt & Whitney) employ engineers in production, completion, and service centre roles.
• Low-cost carriers — Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet, and the fast-growing Eastern European carriers maintain large fleets and are major entry-level employers.
• General aviation and helicopter operators — Thousands of FBOs, flight schools, and independent shops across Europe employ engineers for piston and turboprop aircraft, plus the offshore helicopter operators in the North Sea.

Engineer Salary Ranges by Experience Level

Salaries for Part-66 engineers follow a clear progression from apprentice through senior certifying staff. The figures below are indicative gross annual salaries based on industry surveys, job postings, and collective agreements from early 2026.

Entry-Level (Years 0-2)

Entry-level apprentices and technicians typically earn between €22,000 and €35,000 per year. At this stage, work is primarily performing inspections under supervision, component replacements, and routine maintenance. New graduates of MTO programmes at regional airlines and MROs tend to be at the higher end of this range, while those at small GA shops may start lower. Most employers provide a wage review after the first 12 months, with increases tied to competency milestones.

Newly Licensed Engineer (0-5 Years)

With a full Part-66 licence and several years of experience, engineers earn between €30,000 and €45,000. At this career stage, engineers can sign the release to service within their category, handle complex troubleshooting independently, and may begin taking on lead roles on shifts. Those with additional skills (NDT certification, composite repair, avionics integration) command premiums above the base range.

Senior Engineers and Lead Technicians

Senior engineers with 8+ years of experience and leads at major airlines earn €55,000 to €75,000+. These roles include supervising work crews, signing off complex maintenance, mentoring junior engineers, and often serving as the primary technical point of contact for shift operations. At the majors, collective-agreement wage scales with longevity steps push top-out rates above €70,000 at the highest steps.

Type-Rated Engineers, Inspectors, and Maintenance Managers

At the top of the career ladder, type-rated certifying staff, quality inspectors at MROs, and maintenance managers earn €70,000 to €100,000+. These roles involve regulatory compliance oversight, budget management, workforce planning, and strategic decision-making. Many require the Part-66 licence as a foundation credential, combined with type ratings and management experience.

Salary by Employer Type

Compensation varies significantly by employer type. Here is how the major categories compare:

Major Airlines (Unionised)

Engineers at the major airlines are covered by collective bargaining agreements (ver.di, CFDT, FNV, and national federations) with structured wage scales. Starting rates at the majors range from €35,000 to €45,000, with top-out rates of €60,000–€75,000 after 5-8 years of longevity. Airlines offer shift premiums (typically 10-20% for afternoon/night shifts), overtime at 1.25x-2x base rate, pensions, travel privileges, and guaranteed annual wage increases. A top-out engineer at a major airline with overtime and premiums can easily exceed €85,000–€100,000 annually.

MROs

MROs (Lufthansa Technik, SR Technics, AFI KLM E&M, Sabena technics) typically pay €35,000 to €60,000 depending on location and specialisation. Heavy maintenance MROs have been aggressively raising wages to attract engineers. Many MROs offer performance bonuses, per-diem for travel, and rapid advancement for strong performers. Borescope, engine shop, and composite specialists earn at the top of MRO ranges.

OEMs and Manufacturers

Airbus, Rolls-Royce, Safran, Leonardo, and the service centres pay €38,000 to €65,000 for engineers in production, flight test support, and service centre roles. OEM roles often include tuition assistance, certification bonuses, and structured progression through multiple aircraft programmes.

General Aviation and Corporate Flight Departments

GA shops and FBOs pay €28,000 to €45,000. Corporate flight departments — maintaining fleets of one to twenty business jets — pay €40,000 to €65,000 and often add generous benefits, travel, and a stable Monday-to-Friday schedule. GA roles offer the most variety and the broadest hands-on experience.

Engineer Salary by Country (2026)

Annual salaries vary widely by country. The ranges below reflect typical gross pay for licensed Part-66 engineers in early 2026 — the higher end of each range reflects senior positions, lead roles, and top-of-scale rates at major carriers:

• Switzerland — CHF 75,000–110,000 (€78K–€115K). SR Technics Zurich and Swiss International Air Lines anchor the highest-paying market in Europe.
• Germany — €45,000–€80,000. Lufthansa Technik Hamburg/Frankfurt and the Lufthansa Group set the benchmark for European maintenance pay.
• Netherlands — €42,000–€72,000. KLM Engineering & Maintenance at Schiphol drives demand.
• Nordics (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland) — €45,000–€75,000. SAS, Norwegian, Finnair, and strong union protections.
• Belgium — €40,000–€65,000. Sabena technics Brussels and Brussels Airlines maintenance.
• Ireland — €40,000–€70,000. Ryanair's Dublin headquarters and Lufthansa Technik Shannon.
• United Kingdom — £32,000–£60,000 (€37K–€70K). BA, easyJet, and the UK CAA's Part-66-equivalent regime.
• France — €35,000–€62,000. Air France Industries KLM E&M and the Airbus ecosystem in Toulouse.
• Austria — €40,000–€68,000. Austrian Airlines and FACC maintenance activities.
• Italy — €28,000–€50,000. ITA Airways, Leonardo, and the growing MRO sector.
• Spain — €25,000–€45,000. Iberia Maintenance and Ryanair's Spanish bases.
• Portugal — €22,000–€38,000. TAP Maintenance & Engineering in Lisbon.
• Greece — €22,000–€38,000. Aegean and Olympic Air maintenance.
• Poland — €18,000–€35,000. LOT AMS and Wizz Air bases — the fastest-growing market in Eastern Europe.
• Czech Republic / Hungary / Romania — €18,000–€33,000. Growing MRO clusters with lower living costs.

A useful rule of thumb: countries with a major airline group or an OEM plant pay at the top of these ranges; countries with mostly general aviation and small MROs pay at the bottom. Cost of living matters too — a €28,000 salary in Poland or Portugal goes further than €60,000 in Zurich.

Benefits and Compensation Beyond Base Salary

Total compensation for European engineers extends well beyond base pay. Typical additional benefits include:

• Shift premiums — 10-20% additional pay for afternoon, night, and weekend shifts. Rotating shift schedules at major operators can add €5,000 to €15,000 annually.
• Overtime — Paid at 1.25x-2x base rate. Many engineers willingly work overtime, and at major employers 100-300 hours of overtime per year is common, adding €8,000 to €20,000 to annual earnings.
• Licensing and certification bonuses — Many airlines and MROs pay one-time bonuses for the Part-66 licence and additional bonuses for type ratings.
• Pensions — Defined-benefit or defined-contribution pensions at the majors, plus state pension systems.
• Health coverage — Comprehensive health insurance is standard across Europe.
• Travel privileges — Airline employees and their families enjoy standby travel benefits.
• Tool allowances — Some MROs and airlines provide tool reimbursements or yearly tool stipends.

How to Maximize Your Engineer Salary

Engineers who earn the highest salaries share common career strategies:

• Get licensed as quickly as possible — Every year as an unlicensed technician instead of a licensed engineer costs €8,000–€15,000. Use efficient exam preparation with Skylicence Europe to accelerate your timeline.
• Target the majors or large MROs — Unionised airline positions and top-tier MROs offer the highest total compensation packages in Europe.
• Add type ratings — A type rating on a current fleet (A320 family, 737, A350, 787) adds a significant salary premium and unlocks the best certifying roles.
• Consider a second category — The dual B1/B2 licence is rare and commands a premium at virtually every employer.
• Specialise in high-value areas — Turbine engine overhaul, borescope inspection, composite repair, and avionics integration are particularly well-compensated specialisations.
• Consider moving to a higher-paying market — Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and the Nordics pay the highest rates. If you are mobile, targeting these markets maximises your earning potential.
• Take overtime strategically — At top-of-scale rates, overtime at 1.25x-2x is a reliable path to six-figure earnings.

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