Pilot Salaries in 2025–2027: What Airline Pilots Earn

Curious about how much airline pilots actually take home? The answer ranges from modest to extraordinary, depending on where a pilot sits on the seniority ladder, which carrier they fly for, and what aircraft they operate. Here's a data-driven breakdown of pilot pay across ranks, regions, and career stages.

Quick Answer: How Much Do Airline Pilots Make Today?

Airline pilot salaries for the years 2025 to 2027 come in at a staggering amount with an enormous range at that. New pilots coming on board can expect to earn a heck of a lot less than those in top positions. The difference between a first-year pilot on a regional airline and a seasoned captain flying with a major airline is likely to be a whopping 400 grand per year.

Key things to keep in mind if you're trying to figure out what to expect

• The median salary for airline pilots in the USA is roughly $239,000. And if you're looking at pilots in the commercial world as a whole not just airlines the median pay comes in at something like $123,220.

• At the low end, 10% of pilots in the US manage to scrape by on less than 107 grand a year, while at the high end, 90% of pilots are flying high on more than 460 grand annually.

• Southwest Airlines pilots draw a decent average salary of $263,500, and American Airlines pilots manage to snag $221,000 per year which is a pretty good deal.

Major US airline pilots consistently sit among the highest salaries worldwide, often landing in the top 5–10% of all professions by total compensation.

How Pilot Pay Works: Hourly Rates, Flight Hours & Contracts

Pilots flying for airlines get paid on an hourly basis and it's all based on the time they spend in the air, not some fixed salary at the end of the year. And in airline jargon, this hourly pay is often tied to something called "block time", which is basically how long the whole flight takes, from when the plane first pushes out of the gate to when it finally lands.

Here's the way it all works out in the real world

• Airlines usually guarantee a certain number of hours for every pilot each month. This is a safety net for pilots who don't get to fly as much as they would like. Most big carriers guarantee between 65-80 hours a month, which gives pilots a minimum income that they can count on even if they don't get to fly that much.

• Now the hourly rate for pilots can vary a lot - it really depends on who you are and what airline you fly for. A rookie pilot just starting out at a regional airline might get paid around $80 - $120 an hour, while the captain at a major airline with lots of experience can earn $388 - $465+ an hour.

• On top of their basic hourly rate, pilots also get paid extra for things like meals when they're away from home, overtime and other perks like profit sharing.

If you're wondering "how much do pilots make per flight," our guide breaks down how hourly rates and paid credit hours translate into estimated earnings for individual flight legs.

A simple example

A senior captain at United who's been flying for 12 years and flies a B737 can earn about $388 an hour. With a guaranteed 70 hours a month, that's like a nice $325,000 a year before he even gets any bonuses or allowances.

And its worth noting that union contracts have a lot to do with setting these pay scales, and they've recently gotten some nice raises for pilots across the whole industry.

Major US Airline Pilots: Among the Highest Salaries in Aviation

US airline pilots flying for big carriers like Delta, United, American Airlines and Southwest are raking it in some of the very best salaries in the business. Captains are a whole lot better off than first officers simply because they're flying bigger planes and shouldering a lot of extra responsibility.

What to Expect in the Next Few Years

• Just take a look at what some of the numbers are going to be for 2025–2027 First officers at the big US airlines are pulling in anywhere from $106,000 to $300,000 depending on how long they've been around and what kind of plane they're flying. For instance, a new first officer at American on an A320 can expect to earn over $125 an hour and that's just in the first year after that it goes up fast.

• Right in the middle of the pack, captains flying smaller planes are making around $250,000 to $320,000 per year. Then you've got your senior captains on the really long haul flights on the bigger wide-body fleets their salary can easily top $350,000-$450,000 or a whole lot more with bonuses tacked on.

• American's top captains on the bigger planes, for example, are pulling in up to $483 per hour while Delta's captains flying on their A350/A330s are making about $465 per hour.

• And it's not just the big airlines doing well companies like Clay Lacy Aviation are paying pilots $271,065 a year which shows that there's a lot of competition out there for top pilots.

Just look at how seniority, the type of plane you're flying (narrow-body vs. wide-body) and where you're based (lets say Dallas–Fort Worth, Miami or Charlotte) all combine to shape just how much you make at American Airlines. The one thing that's clear is that every pilot is paid differently. Sizable pay increases in 2024–2025 have driven the average figures up to $230,000-$250,000.

Regional vs Major Airlines: Why First Officer Pay Starts Lower

Regional airlines are the feeder systems that keep major airlines running smoothly they're operating under the big-brand names but with an entirely different business model. When its time to consider a career as a pilot, understanding how starting pay and long term earning potential work is key.

• Regional first officers in 2025 can expect to start off around $50,000-$90,000 per year, but these days many carriers are throwing in extra incentives like sign on and retention bonuses to try and keep up with the shortage.

• Regional captains can earn between $90,000-$180,000, which is way lower than what mainline pilots bring in but way better than it used to be back in pre 2020 days.

• Major airlines pay quite a bit more than regional airlines and cargo work. A new guy coming in as a first officer at a major US carrier can expect to start in the $120,000 range, or maybe even higher, by the end of their first year.

The general career path for a pilot looks a bit like this: flight training → flight instructor → regional first officer → regional captain → mainline first officer → mainline captain. Each job along the way is supposed to pay double or even more so a regional first officer making $60,000 can realistically see that number balloon up to $300,000+ as a wide-body captain at a legacy carrier within 10 to 15 years.

Global Comparison: Where Do Airline Pilots Earn the Most?

US pilots are among the highest paid in the world, but a few carriers in the Middle East and some pretty sweet deals in Asia have them all scrambling for the cream of the crop.

• USA: The salaries for major airline pilots run anywhere from $160,000 all the way to $400,000 + and its not uncommon for it to get pretty wild all depending on rank, seniority and the aircraft they're flying.

• Canada: Not too shabby, but still about 15 to 25 percent less than what you'd get in the States.

• Europe: If you're a pilot in Europe, you can expect to make anywhere from €32,300 in Romania all the way up to €113,700 in Switzerland. And in 2026, beginners in France can look forward to taking home around €59,000 to €63,000 a year. Ryanair captains? They can make a pretty penny at up to £155,500.

• Middle East: If you land a gig at one of the Gulf carriers, you can expect to make anywhere from $98,000 to $195,000 and that's not including the housing allowance, schooling and travel perks your employer will foot the bill for. Experienced captains can more than double that often hitting $250,000 to $300,000.

• Asia: Fast growing markets like China, India and Southeast Asia are starting to up the pay for pilots, and with some airlines offering the high life and others barely scraping by, there's a pretty wide gap in pay between the cheap carriers and the flag airlines.

Where you fly really does matter when it comes to the bottom line though. A lower headline salary in the Middle East or Asia can be a lot more attractive when you factor in the cost of living and tax rates in those areas, so these regions are starting to become pretty attractive options for experienced pilots looking to make a change (or pick up a few extra grand a year).

Key Factors That Influence Pilot Salaries

Pilot wages can vary like crazy depending on the sector of aviation - and to be honest, 'pilot salary' is never a straightforward number. When comparing job offers, consider how the employer, rank, and aircraft type affect the salary of the pilot in each role. Here are the key things that can make a big difference:

Seniority and rank

Seniority is basically the biggest deal when it comes to commercial aviation pay. Not only does it affect how much you get paid but also what kind of schedule you get to look forward to and which routes you get to fly. Getting from first officer to captain can give you an extra $70,000 to $150,000+ each year on top of your existing pay. And then there's the added bonus of being able to choose your flights and schedules as you gain seniority.

Aircraft type

Your pay scale tends to be linked to the type and size of aircraft you get to fly. Naturally pilots flying bigger planes are going to earn more than those flying smaller jets. And then there are the more complex aircraft like the 777 or A350 those ones tend to command a higher rate than the more standard narrow-body domestic ones.

Which airline you're flying for

What airline you're working for can have a real impact on your pay. Legacy carriers tend to pay more, for instance. And major cargo carriers like FedEx and UPS often have some of the highest base pay rates in the industry and cargo pilots can earn pay that's comparable to passenger airline pilots, depending on their experience and rank.

Location

The location you work from can also play a part in what you take home. For example, in Florida, pilot salaries can range from around $74,000 to over $220,000 a year and the average salary in that state is around $128,000. And it's not just the state that matters, the airport and base location can all have an impact on what you earn as a new pilot or a seasoned captain.

What the job market is like

The pilot job market is facing a real shortage of experienced pilots, which gives pilots' unions a lot of power and more and more contracts are including inflation escalators now.

Benefits Beyond Base Pay: What Airlines Offer Pilots

Total compensation for an airline pilot typically understates what airlines offer when you look only at base salary.

• Medical and insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; life and disability insurance are standard across the group of major US carriers.

• Retirement: 401(k) or pension contributions with company match often in the range of 10–16% of pay. Additional compensation for pilots often includes retirement contributions, bonuses, and per diem allowances.

• Travel perks: Free or heavily discounted flights for pilots and family, jumpseat agreements, and hotel accommodations on layovers including meals.

• Bonuses: Sign-on bonuses at regional airlines, retention bonuses for specific aircraft or bases, and profit sharing at major carriers that can add tens of thousands in strong years.

• Lifestyle: Seniority-based schedule bidding means senior captains pick the best line, days off, and routes. The service, status, and flexibility of this job advance with every year.