Major Airline Pilot Salary First Officer and Captain Pay in 2026

Summary of educational, medical, legal, certification and qualification requirements to become a commercial pilot and fly for major and regional airlines.

To become a pilot in the United States, you must meet FAA eligibility requirements, complete flight training with a certified flight school or flight instructor, and pass FAA knowledge and practical tests.

A common professional path is: Private Pilot → Instrument Rating → Commercial Pilot → Multi-Engine Rating → Flight Instructor (time-building) toward 1,500 total flight hours and airline hiring minimums → Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate at the airline. Most pilots then begin flying for a regional airline as a first officer.

ATP Flight School is the nation’s leader in airline-oriented flight training and has partnered with United to provide ATP students the fastest path to a successful pilot career with United. Learn more about United Aviate^SM.

Accelerated pilot cadet program, offering a proven path to a pilot career at American Airlines.

No. A college degree is not required by the FAA to become an airline pilot, and many major and regional airlines do not require one either. Some airlines may prefer or require a degree for certain career programs. ATP Flight School focuses on helping students meet the flight experience and certification requirements that airlines value most.

It takes three months to become a private pilot. In 2½ years , you can become a commercial airline pilot. Learn how you can become a pilot with ATP Flight School.

Enroll in accelerated flight training with ATP and go from zero experience to a commercial airline pilot, with 1500 hours, in 2½ years . Learn how you can become an airline pilot with ATP Flight School.

Airlines operate on a seniority-based system: the pilot employed the longest is highest on the pilot seniority list, and the most newly hired pilot is lowest. When hired, pilots get a seniority number that stays with them throughout their career at that airline.

Seniority determines your monthly schedule and routes, vacation, domicile (crew base), which aircraft you fly, and how soon you upgrade from first officer to captain (affecting pay and when you can move to a major airline). When an airline furloughs, it does so in reverse seniority order. The sooner you are hired, the sooner you start gaining seniority.

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.

Total cost varies by program, pace, and location. Professional training commonly ranges from tens of thousands to over $100,000 when progressing from private through commercial and instructor certificates.

ATP provides up-front, fixed-cost pricing for the Airline Career Pilot Program and designs programs with enough flight time for the vast majority of students to be successful—never quoting prices based on unrealistic minimum flight time requirements. Fixed-cost pricing does not include separate items such as FAA knowledge tests, designated pilot examiner fees, and third-party iPad apps.

ATP Flight School students can take advantage of Sallie Mae’s lowest-rate loan product; full financing is available for Airline Career Pilot Program students through Sallie Mae for qualified borrowers. You’re welcome to apply as a standalone applicant, but your application has a better chance of being approved if you apply with a cosigner. Sallie Mae allows students to defer loan repayment while in training and offers an additional 12-month post-graduation grace period.

Complete list of aviation courses, flight training, and career pilot programs offered by ATP Flight School.

Uncover everything you need to know about the privileges, requirements, and eligibility criteria associated with different pilot licenses and certifications from the introductory Student Pilot Certificate to the advanced Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certification.

The student pilot certificate is a requirement in order to fly a powered aircraft by yourself, known as “soloing” in aviation.

A Private Pilot License (PPL) is the first major milestone on the road to a career as a pilot. Learn about the private pilot license; including privileges, requirements, eligibility, and how to earn your private pilot license.

Learn all about a commercial pilot license, including privileges, requirements, eligibility, and how to earn this pilot license.

Learn all about earning your flight instructor certification, including privileges, requirements, eligibility, and salary information.

Learn all about earning your flight instructor certification, including privileges, requirements, eligibility, and salary information.

An ATP certification will also open a wide array of pilot job opportunities with various corporate and private air carriers. Learn more about the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certification, such as, eligibility requirements and flight experience requirements.

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.

Commercial airline pilot job career information; airline pilot hiring, pilot salary, retirement numbers, military pilot population reduction and the overall upcoming pilot shortage discussion.

Long-term pilot career outlook in response to COVID-19, including long term hiring trends, projections, retirements, and the effects of postponing flight training.