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Airline pilots in the US earn $134,630 on average — but major airline captains earn $300,000-$500,000+.
Average Pilot Salary in 2026
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Average salary (all pilots) | $134,630 |
| Median salary | $122,000 |
| Regional First Officer (entry) | $55,000-$90,000 |
| Regional Captain | $100,000-$150,000 |
| Major Airline First Officer | $150,000-$250,000 |
| Major Airline Captain | $300,000-$500,000+ |
Pilot Salary by Airline Type
| Airline Type | First Officer (Year 1) | Captain (Senior) |
|---|---|---|
| Regional Airlines | $55,000-$90,000 | $100,000-$150,000 |
| Low-Cost Carriers | $90,000-$140,000 | $200,000-$300,000 |
| Major Airlines | $100,000-$180,000 | $300,000-$500,000 |
| Cargo (FedEx, UPS) | $100,000-$150,000 | $250,000-$400,000 |
Major Airline Pilot Pay Scales (2026)
| Airline | First Officer (Year 1) | Captain (Top of Scale) |
|---|---|---|
| Delta | $109,000 | $445,000+ |
| United | $106,000 | $450,000+ |
| American | $105,000 | $430,000+ |
| Southwest | $98,000 | $380,000+ |
| JetBlue | $92,000 | $310,000 |
| Alaska | $95,000 | $330,000 |
| Spirit | $82,000 | $250,000 |
After recent contract negotiations, major airline pilots have seen significant pay increases.
Pilot Pay by Aircraft Type
| Aircraft Category | Captain Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| Wide-body (B777, B787, A350) | $370-$425/hour |
| Narrow-body (B737, A320) | $320-$370/hour |
| Regional jet (CRJ, ERJ) | $140-$200/hour |
Pilots are paid hourly for flight time, with guaranteed minimums.
How Pilot Pay Works
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Hourly rate | Base of pay calculation |
| Guarantee | 75-85 hours/month minimum |
| Actual flying | Average 75-90 hours/month |
| Max flying | FAA limits: 100 hours/month |
| Per diem | $2-$3/hour for meals on trips |
| Profit sharing | 5-20% of salary at major airlines |
| 401(k) match | 14-18% at major airlines |
Example: Captain hourly rate $380 × 85 hours = $32,300/month = $387,600/year (before profit sharing).
Pilot Salary Progression (Major Airline)
| Year | First Officer | Captain (if upgraded) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $106,000 | — |
| 2-3 | $115,000-$135,000 | — |
| 4-5 | $145,000-$170,000 | $200,000+ |
| 6-8 | $180,000-$220,000 | $280,000+ |
| 10-12 | $220,000-$260,000 | $350,000+ |
| 15+ | $250,000-$300,000 | $400,000-$500,000+ |
Upgrade to captain timing varies by airline seniority.
Regional Airline Pay
Entry point for most airline pilots:
| Airline | First Officer (Year 1) | Captain |
|---|---|---|
| SkyWest | $75,000 | $130,000 |
| Republic | $78,000 | $135,000 |
| Envoy | $80,000 | $140,000 |
| PSA | $76,000 | $130,000 |
| Piedmont | $75,000 | $125,000 |
Regional pay has increased dramatically due to pilot shortage.
Cost of Becoming a Pilot
| Expense | Amount |
|---|---|
| Private Pilot License | $10,000-$15,000 |
| Instrument Rating | $8,000-$12,000 |
| Commercial License | $20,000-$35,000 |
| Multi-Engine Rating | $5,000-$10,000 |
| CFI Ratings | $5,000-$10,000 |
| ATP License | $5,000-$8,000 |
| Total flight training | $80,000-$150,000 |
| Time to ATP minimums | 2-5 years |
Many pilots become flight instructors to build the required 1,500 hours for ATP.
Pilot Benefits
| Benefit | Value |
|---|---|
| Free/standby travel (family) | $10,000-$30,000/year value |
| Profit sharing | 5-20% of salary |
| 401(k) match | 14-18% at majors |
| Health insurance | Full coverage |
| Pension (some airlines) | 10-15% contribution |
| Schedule | 12-18 days off/month |
| Hotel/meal per diem | $200-$400/trip |
Pilot Salary After Taxes
| Gross Salary | Federal Tax | FICA | State Tax | Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | $12,200 | $7,650 | $4,000 | $76,150 |
| $200,000 | $40,000 | $11,773 | $10,000 | $138,227 |
| $350,000 | $85,000 | $11,773 | $21,000 | $232,227 |
| $450,000 | $118,000 | $11,773 | $31,500 | $288,727 |
Alternative Pilot Careers
| Career | Salary Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Corporate/Private Jets | $100,000-$300,000 | Less seniority time |
| Cargo (FedEx, UPS) | $100,000-$400,000 | Night flying |
| Charter | $60,000-$150,000 | Varied flying |
| Flight Instructor | $35,000-$70,000 | Time building |
| Military | $50,000-$120,000 | Benefits, training |
| Agricultural | $50,000-$120,000 | Seasonal |
Timeline to Major Airline
| Stage | Duration | Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Flight training | 1-2 years | -$80,000-$150,000 (cost) |
| Time building (CFI) | 1-2 years | $35,000-$50,000 |
| Regional airline | 2-5 years | $55,000-$150,000 |
| Major airline | Career | $150,000-$500,000+ |
Total time: 5-10 years from zero to major airline pilot.
Is Being a Pilot Worth It?
Pros:
- Excellent pay at majors ($300K-$500K)
- Travel benefits
- 12-18 days off per month
- Exciting career
- Strong job security (pilot shortage)
Cons:
- High upfront training cost ($80K-$150K)
- 5-10 years to reach major airline
- Time away from home
- Jet lag and irregular schedule
- Seniority-based (starting over is painful)
Bottom Line
Pilots earn $134,630 on average, but major airline captains earn $300,000-$500,000+. The path is expensive ($80,000-$150,000 in training) and takes 5-10 years to reach a major airline. However, once at a major carrier, the pay, benefits, and schedule make it one of the best-compensated careers in the US. Current pilot shortage means strong job security and rising wages.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024.” bls.gov/oes
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