Senior Captains Earn the Most Airline Pilot Salary

Commercial Airline Pilot Salary How Much do Airline Pilots Make?

Flying is a rewarding career, both financially and in terms of job satisfaction. Pilots undertake intensive training to develop a highly unique skill set. As a result, commercial pilots are paid well and today, enjoy the benefits of a high-demand career in a growing job market.

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To alleviate a spike in demand post-pandemic coupled with a major labor shortage, airlines are now offering dramatic pay increases to pilots in order to retain and attract new talent.

Annual Pilot Salary Range

Regional Airline Pilot Pay $85,000 — $217,530

First-Year Regional Airline Pilot Pay »

What is a Regional Airline? »

Major Airline Pilot Pay $98,680 — $450,000

Major Airline Pilot Pay »

How Much Do Pilots Make an Hour? »

According to the May 2023 Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the salary for commercial pilots is $113,080 per year. The median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers is $239,200. In addition to annual earnings, pilots take part in company health, life and disability insurance, and retirement plans. In many cases, these plans exceed what employees in other fields receive.

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What Can Airline Pilots Plan to Actually Earn? How Much Airline Pilots Make Per Year

At a Glance Airline Pilot Pay Overview

Median Airline Pilot Salary $239,200
Hour Flown Per Month 75 Hours
Factors Affecting Pay Experience, Airline, Aircraft

With increased demand for qualified pilots, the median salary for airline pilots has increased over 12% year-over-year. In the May 2023 report, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the range of salaries for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers from less than $101,710 a year, to the highest 10 percent earning more than $$239,200. However, these numbers only give us a glimpse of how much a pilot earns and how those earnings change over a career.

Commercial Airline Pilot — A Ten Million Dollar Career

With union protections, structured seniority system, and guaranteed earnings, advancement at major airlines are excellent. Established airline pilots are very well paid very, with the annual earnings of senior captains around $450,000, some pilots can expect a ten million dollar career in total earnings, illustrated below according to the typical career progression.

Commercial Pilot Salary Chart Over a Pilot's Career

*Graph based on SkyWest Airlines and Delta Air Lines pay scales and are for illustration purposes, not promises of future earnings.

Do Pilots Get Paid After Every Flight?

Airline pilots are compensated based on an hourly structure. While we often express a pilot's annual earnings as a salary, commercial airline pilots typically receive an hourly wage based on the number of flight hours flown, with a guaranteed minimum number of hours per month.

How Much Pilots Make Per Hour »

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Factors Affecting Pilot Salary

Airline pilot salary varies and can range anywhere from $85,000 per year to several hundred thousand per year depending on several factors, including airline, seniority, aircraft, and role.

What is a Regional Airline?

Flying at a regional airline is a likely first step for many pilots. However, climbing to the ranks of Captain at a major airline is the pinnacle of a pilot's career.

Regional Airline Explained »

Which Airline Company?

There are a variety of pay, benefits, and bonus packages dependent on each airline company. ATP actively maintains hiring partnerships with 38 major and regional airlines.

Browse ATP's Airline Hiring Partners »

What is Pilot Seniority

A pilot's experience level (pilot seniority) is measured by how long they have been with a company. Airlines operate on a seniority-based system and seniority is everything as an airline pilot.

Pilot Seniority Explained »

What is a Captain and First Officer?

Your first stop after training and flight instructing will probably be flying as a First Officer. After gaining experience, you will upgrade to Captain. Upgrading not only increases your salary, but usually comes with substantial bonuses.

Airline Captain and First Officer Explained »

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Related FAQs Airline Career Pilot Program

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What are the eligibility requirements for becoming an airline pilot? »
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It takes three months to become a private pilot. In two and a half years, you can become a commercial airline pilot. Learn how you can become a pilot with ATP Flight School.

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Airline seniority explained »
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The shortage of pilots qualified to fly for the airlines is causing regional airlines to offer signing bonuses, tuition reimbursement, and other incentives. Learn more about how much you will earn as a pilot.

Compare First-Year Pay at Each Regional Airline »
How much does it cost to become a commercial pilot?

ATP provides up-front, fixed-cost pricing in a way that differentiates us from most other flight schools and academies. With over 30 years of experience, ATP designs our flight training programs with enough flight time for the vast majority of students to be successful.

How much does it cost to become a commercial pilot? »
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Complete list of aviation courses, flight training, and career pilot programs offered by ATP Flight School.

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What is a student pilot certificate? »
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