Annual Salary
£25,000 to £36,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
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RAF aviators make up the majority of RAF personnel and maintain its ability to fight and fly.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; away from home
There will be
0.2% fewer RAF aviator jobs in 2027.
As an RAF aviator, your duties will depend on your job. You could:
You could work at a military base or in a warzone.
Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and physically and emotionally demanding.
You can get into this job through:
RAF apprenticeship roles offer you the chance to learn on the job and gain a UK-recognised trade qualification.
There are more than 20 roles to choose from in professions such as:
You'll apply directly to the RAF to discuss which is the best apprenticeship route for you. This will depend on your qualifications and which service role you're interested in.
You can apply directly for roles as an RAF aviator.
Some roles do not need any qualifications while others require qualifications in certain subjects. All roles and entry requirements are listed on RAF Recruitment.
If your application is accepted, you'll be invited to talk to an adviser at your local armed forces careers office about what you want to do. You'll also take a defence aptitude assessment.
If you're successful, you’ll then have an interview and a medical examination. Once this is complete, you will attend a fitness assessment.
RAF Reserve
You can join the RAF Reserve in some roles as a part-time enlisted aviator. This will give you experience of what life is like in the Royal Air Force, and you'll learn new skills at the same time.
You'll need to:
Air Cadets
If you're between 13 and 17 years old, you can join the Air Cadets.
The skills you learn and experiences you gain will benefit you whatever career path you choose. Cadets have many opportunities, including UK and overseas camps, leadership courses and air experience flights.
Further information
You'll find more details about how to become an enlisted aviator through RAF Recruitment.
You'll need to:
With experience, you could move up the ranks from Air Specialist - class 1 (AS1) to Warrant Officer (WO) or higher.
You could go into a wide range of careers once you leave the RAF. Your career choices will depend on the skills, training and qualifications you've gained during your service.
You can find details about support and opportunities from:Quest; Career Transition Partnership; Forces Employment Charity; | https://www.forcesemployment.org.uk/][Get Into Teaching
You'll need: