Airline Pilot Salary

By Aleksandra Miladinovic on May 27, 2024 09:05 AM |

People enter the doors of Phoenix East Aviation driven by a shared ambition: becoming a pilot. While there are various categories of pilots, a significant number aspire to become airline pilots. The global pilot shortage has created a surge in job opportunities and rising salaries for airline pilots. However, according to Boeing’s Pilot and Technician Outlook, at a glance, “The long-term demand for newly qualified aviation personnel remains strong, as 649,000 new pilots… will be needed to fly and maintain the global commercial fleet over the next 20 years” (2023). As a result, understanding pilot salaries has become a topic of interest for individuals considering this career path.

Unlike some professions, pilots do not earn a fixed annual salary, rather an hourly wage for each flight hour flown, along with per diem. The majority of airlines offer their pilots a guaranteed minimum number of paid hours each month, to ensure a steady and dependable stream of income.

Starting Salaries

Aspiring airline pilots in the United States commonly start their careers by joining a regional airline. This serves as a pivotal stepping stone, enabling pilots to accumulate essential flight hours and qualifications required to advance to major airlines in the future.Entry-level pilots at these regional airlines can expect to earn an annual salary ranging from $90,300 to $120,700. In addition to competitive pay, major regional carriers often provide incentives such as signing bonuses, tuition reimbursement programs, healthcare benefits, and flight benefits.

medium detailed shot of 2 pilots in cockpit during night, highlighting G1000 Avionics

Pilots frequently receive supplemental compensation in the form of training stipend during period of instruction, as well as a daily allowance known as per diem, which is provided when pilots are away from their home base. Per diem is allocated to cover the costs of meals and additional expenses while traveling. Additionally, airlines generally provide paid lodging accommodations for pilots when they are required to do overnight stays away from their home base.

Some pilots may stay with regional airlines, many will use regional airlines as a stepping stone to get to major commercial airliners. With that, it is important to understand commercial pilot starting salaries, too. In the realm of airline pilots’ salaries, there exists considerable variation in average pay. This diversity in earnings stems from a multitude of contributing factors. Let’s take a further look into some of those key factors.

Position: Airline pilots typically start their careers as a First Officer before progressing to roles such as Captain, Training Captain, and Check Pilot. Salaries tend to increase with rank, with Captains generally earning more than First Officers, and Training Captains and Check Pilots often earning even higher salaries.
Tier of Airline: Even within the airline industry, salaries may fluctuate significantly based on the type of carrier. For example, pilots who are employed by major airlines may receive a higher salary over the course of their careers compared to pilots at regional and/or smaller airlines.
Experience and Seniority: Much like any profession, having experience and seniority has a crucial role in determining a pilot’s salary. Over the course of their careers, pilots accumulate more flight hours and gain seniority, allowing for better-paying positions and rank as their seniority increases. Many airlines offer pay increases based on the total hours of flight time a pilot has accrued.
Geographic Location: The location of a pilot can ultimately impact their earnings. Salaries may vary based on the cost of living and demand for pilots in different regions or metropolitan areas.

Salaries by Aircraft

Key factors that impacted salary were discussed above, however one key determinant of salary earnings for a pilot is based on aircraft size. The size and complexity of an aircraft a pilot operates influence their salary. Those that fly larger, long-haul aircraft often earn more due to the increased skills and responsibilities required to operate a more complex aircraft.

According to BizJetJobs and a 2024 pilot salary survey that was conducted, an Airbus’ First Officer’s median salary is an impressive $164,131 with the higher scale of $203,102; a Captain’s median salary for the same aircraft type is $270,105 with the higher scale of $318,285. As of March 2024, non-jet pilots’ salary average is $74,590 with the range starting from $72,131 to an impressive $102,295.

How Salaries Increase

Phoenix East Aviation continues to successfully train thousands of pilots to help close the gap in the pilot shortage that has been seen across the world. However, there has been a significant upward trend on how the pilot shortage is driving salary increases. The aviation industry continues to soar, offering a world of endless opportunities after pilots accumulate enough flight hours and experience.

As major airlines continue to meet their staffing needs, they are actively recruiting from regional carriers. This, in turn, creates somewhat of a domino effect of opportunities for newly trained pilots, as regional airlines are stepping up their game to become more competitive at attracting and retaining new pilots. It is known that many will offer incentives including:

- Paid training programs
- Relocation expense coverages
- Sign-on bonuses
- Secure pathways to major airlines, such as the United Aviate Program.
- Benefit packages for their pilots
- Seniority matching

With the increasing demand of pilots within the aviation industry, regional airlines are becoming more aware of addressing the needs and expectations of pilot’s in their recruitment and retention efforts. Offering things such as what is listed above, opens up vast opportunities for career development and growth within a company.

Overall, competitive salaries and incentives are on the rise, and there has never been a better time to take to the skies and join the aviation industry. Are you looking for your pilot dreams to take flight? Our Admissions Department is here to help make that happen! Email info2@pea.com to get in touch with us.

Sources:

Salary.com, S. built by: (n.d.). Chief pilot air fleet manager salary. https://www.salary.com/research/salary/alternate/chief-pilot-air-fleet-manager-salary

Entry level commercial pilot Annual salary ($48,563 avg – Jul 2022) – ziprecruiter. (n.d.). https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Entry-Level-Commercial-Pilot-Salary

Redbird Flight. (2023, September 6). Commercial pilot salary averages. Commercial Pilot Salary Averages. https://www.redbirdflight.com/landing/commercial-pilot-salary

Memon, Dr. O. (2024, March 1). How much do regional pilots make?. Simple Flying. https://simpleflying.com/regional-pilot-salary-guide/#:~:text=Regional%20airline%20pilots%20in%20theranges%20between%20%2440%2C000%20and%20%2485%2C000.

2024 pilot salary survey. BizJetJobs. (n.d.). https://bizjetjobs.com/pilot-salary-survey

Airline Pilot Salary

By Erica Martin on May 14, 2013 14:05 PM |

What Do Airline Pilots Earn?

HOME > AIRLINE PILOT SALARY

Introduction

With a worldwide shortage of pilots creating ample job opportunities and increasing salaries at airlines, airline pilot salaries are a topic of major interest. Understanding how pay works for pilots can help you decide whether this career is right for you.

Pilots don’t earn a flat annual salary like some professions. Instead, they’re paid an hourly wage for each flight hour flown, along with per diem. Most airlines guarantee a minimum number of hours per month, so that pilots can count on at least a minimum amount of monthly income.

Starting Salaries

A regional airline pilots in the U.S. typically starts out making an hourly rate of $20 – $50 per hour, or about $20,000-$40,000 per year, depending on the airline, type of aircraft, and the pilot’s experience level. And although prospective pilots may imagine a lifetime in the air, the reality is that pilots spend just as much time on the ground as they do in the airplane. The average airline pilot logs 75 hours a month in the air and sometimes up to 150 hours per month performing ground duties like simulator training, maintaining records, performing pre-flight inspections, flight planning and traveling to and from hotels and airports.

In addition to the pilot’s hourly wage, he or she often receives a pay stipend during the training period, as well as a per diem rate when away from home. This allowance covers meals and other incidentals the pilots may accrue. And airlines typically pay for lodging when a pilot has to stay away from home overnight.

Salaries by Aircraft

Pilot salaries vary according the type of aircraft that they’re flying and how long they’ve been at an airline. The median annual salary for the pilot of a large jet is an impressive $121,408. For a small jet, the median annual salary is $104,219.

Non-jet aircraft pilots make significantly less. The pilot of a large non-jet aircraft earns a median annual salary of just $79,106. For a small non-jet, the median annual salary is $85,418. Pilots undergo different training for each type of aircraft that they’re certified to fly, so it’s worth considering these facts before you begin your education.

How Salaries Increase

Each airline has its own pay schedule, but nearly all offer standard raises annually. Thanks to this steady increase, airline and commercial pilots can expect to work their way up to a median annual wage of about $117,290 and higher. Pilots experience the biggest salary increase in their first five years. This increase is often larger for first officers than for captains, and the largest jump in salary often occurs after a one-year probationary period. Nearly all first officers go on to become captains after several years of experience.

Legacy carriers – the largest and oldest carriers in the U.S. – have some of the highest pay rates for pilots. A first officer in a Boeing 757 at Delta Air Lines, for example, starts out at $70 per hour the first year, and second-year pay is substantially more. After 10 years a first officer at Delta will earn $151 per hour. At the 65-hour minimum guarantee, a Boeing 757 first officer starts out making at least $55,000 per year and by year 10 will be making more than $120,000 per year, not including per diem.

By comparison, a captain at Delta in the same airplane starts at $206 per hour year one, and by year 10 makes $222 per hour. This equates to about $160,000 the first year and $173,000 by year 10, not including per diem.

For the major airline Southwest, first officers begin with an hourly wage of $57 their first year. By year five, this has more than doubled to $130 an hour. By year 10, a first officer’s hourly wage is $148 with Southwest. In the first year, a captain for Southwest makes $191 an hour. By year five he earns $200 an hour, and by year 10 $212 hourly.

Regional airlines pay less, and pilots fly smaller aircraft. Flying for a regional airline is the most common way to gain experience required for the major airlines, so it’s a necessary step for most up-and-coming pilots.

On Island Air, for example, a first officer makes $43 per hour the first year, and $58 per hour the fifth year. Captains for the same airline earn $67 per hour the first year, and $97 per hour by year five.

The good news is that with today’s pilot shortage in full force, regional airlines are forced to make themselves more competitive when it comes to hiring pilots, and many are offering paid training, relocation expenses, sign-on bonuses and bridge programs to their major airline partners, and better benefits for pilots. Island Air is currently offering a $12,000 joining bonus with $5,000 toward relocation expenses. Piedmont Airlines is offering a $15,000 joining bonus and according to their website, guaranteed employment with American Airlines.

Prospective pilots who are dedicated to this career have great potential to earn impressive salaries with less than a decade on the job. Those who take to the skies for their entire career can enjoy a very comfortable salary by the time they reach retirement.

The following infographic will help you visualize the current airline pilot salaries:

*This pilot salary information is to be used for those considering a career as a pilot actual airline pilot salaries may vary based on individual airlines and economic conditions. This information was based on a 2015 data.

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Airline Pilot Salary

Airline Pilot Salary

What Do Airline Pilots Earn?

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