Senior Captains Earn the Most Airline Pilot Salary

Major Airline Pilot Salary First Officer and Captain Pay in 2024

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The table below shows which airline pays pilots the most.

First Officer
(Year 1)
Captain
(Year 6)
Captain
(Year 12)
Salary for American Airlines Pilots
Salary for American Airlines Pilots

Based on: A320/737 at 72 hrs/month

$104,506 $286,814 $300,091
Salary for Delta Air Lines Pilots
Salary for Delta Air Lines Pilots

Based on: A320/737 at 72 hrs/month

$104,506 $298,759 $312,603
Salary for United Airlines Pilots
Salary for United Airlines Pilots

Based on: A320/737 at 73 hrs/month

$111,445 $315,583 $330,073
Salary for Alaska Airlines Pilots
Salary for Alaska Airlines Pilots

Based on: 737 at 75 hrs/month

$114,928 $310,984 $325,474
Salary for Southwest Airlines Pilots
Salary for Southwest Airlines Pilots

Based on: 87 hrs/month

$121,171 $303,996 $318,149
Salary for FedEx Pilots
Salary for FedEx Pilots

Based on: A310 at 85 hrs/month

$82,690 $287,566 $300,859
Salary for UPS Pilots
Salary for UPS Pilots

Based on: 75 hrs/month

$63,442 $358,789 $375,472
Salary for Frontier Pilots
Salary for Frontier Pilots

Based on: 75 hrs/month

$97,000 $319,723 $335,410
Salary for Spirit Pilots
Salary for Spirit Pilots

Based on: A320 at 72 hrs/month

$110,221 $313,467 $338,500
Salary for Avelo Pilots
Salary for Avelo Pilots

Based on: 70 hrs/month, including $1,800/month Virtual Base Pay Stipend

$117,900 $240,300 $268,200
Salary for Sun Country Pilots
Salary for Sun Country Pilots

Based on: 72 hrs/month

$81,943 $220,966 $256,111
Salary for Breeze Pilots
Salary for Breeze Pilots

Based on: 70 hrs/month

$101,500 $230,200 $259,000
Sources: ACN The Grid and AirlinePilotCentral. Additional average of $7k in per diem added to all but Avelo due to stipend. Note: these numbers are approximations and are not promises of future earnings.

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Maximize Earnings as a Captain for a Major Airline Operating Wide-Body A350 Aircraft

First Officer1 Captain
(Narrow-Body)1
Captain
(Wide-Body)2*
Year 1 $112,500 $296,100 $369,000
Year 6 $216,900 $307,800 $384,300
Year 12 $238,500 $322,200 $402,300
Estimates based on Delta Air Lines pilots flying an A3201 , or an A3502 for 75 hours per month and an additional $7,000 annual per diem. * Only the most senior pilots will hold this position. Note: these numbers are approximations and are not promises of future earnings.

Commercial Airline Pilot — A Ten Million Dollar Career

With union protections and seniority system, job security and guaranteed earnings, advancement at the established airlines are excellent. Established airline pilots are paid very well, with the annual earnings of senior captains around $400,000, 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.

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