What is the salary for a new airline pilot? Get paid to fly the ERJ

Regional Airline Pilot Pay 2024How Much Do New Airline Pilots Make the First Year?

Flying for a regional airline is likely to be your first airline pilot job. Most people don't realize that when you are flying on an airplane with the American Eagle livery, you aren't flying on American Airlines. Instead, you are flying with Envoy Air, Piedmont Airlines, or PSA Airlines.

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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.

Scroll to compare the first-year salary for a regional airline pilot, including bonuses.

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Compare the effective first-year pay, bonuses and what path each Regional Airline has to the Major Airlines.

Effective First Year Pay: Average salary of guaranteed hours, including per diem.

Bonuses: Received first year of employment, including various types of bonuses and upgrades.

Regional Airline First Year Pay First Year Bonus

=

Total Pilot Salary Path to Major Airline
Air Wisconsin
$99,000

$5,000

=

$104,000
American Airlines
CommuteAir
$85,386

$5,000

=

$90,386
United Airlines
Endeavor
$105,810

$0

=

$105,810
Delta Air Lines
Envoy Air
$105,750

$0

=

$105,750
American Airlines
GoJet
$95,700

$0

=

$95,700
United Airlines
Horizon Air
$96,390

$0

=

$96,390
Alaska Airlines
Mesa
$114,150

$0

=

$114,150
United Airlines
Piedmont Airlines
$105,000

$0

=

$105,000
American Airlines
PSA
$105,150

$0

=

$105,150
American Airlines
Republic Airways
$95,730

$0

=

$95,730
SkyWest
$102,120

$5,000

=

$107,120
View Program Details for Each on Their Individual Airline's Page.

Pilot Pathway Programs Defined Career and Pilot Training Paths

Delta Air Lines Logo
United Aviate
SkyWest Logo
Envoy Airlines Logo

Pilot Pathway Programs Defined Career and Pilot Training Paths

Pilot pathway programs help develop and mentor student pilots during flight school and as they work toward meeting airline pilot experience and flight hour requirements. Once you have decided what airline you would like to fly for, you typically then participate in the airline's pathway program or the pathway program of their regional airline. These programs vary by airline and include United Aviate, SkyWest Airlines Pilot Pathway Program (path to Delta Air Lines), Envoy Air Cadet Program (path to American Airlines), and more.

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Two pilots walking towards American Eagle ERJ at ATP IWA Training Center

What Is a Regional Airline? Regional and Major Airline Partnerships Explained

American Eagle Operated by Envoy Air Embraer-175

American Eagle ERJ-175 Operated by Envoy Air

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