12/24/2025
How much do pilots earn in the USA?
A screenshot of a salary report was recently posted on Reddit, and the comments exploded. The pilot is a Boeing 737 captain, based in Miami, working for American Airlines.
Income from the beginning of the year to December 15, 2025: $457,894.
Hourly rate: $361–364 per hour.
For one pay period (November 16 - December 1): $22,154
Pilots in the US do not receive a fixed salary. They receive pay based on credited hours – paid hours according to their contract.
What affects the final income:
- Aircraft type
- Position (First Officer vs. Captain)
- Seniority on the aircraft type
- Overtime
- Voluntary extra trips
- Training and briefings
- Premium pay (holidays, short notice)
Two pilots with the same base location can have an income difference of over $100,000 per year.
How much do major airlines – American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines – pay after the new contracts for 2023-2024?
First Officer (FO):
- Starting: $100-120 per hour
- After 5-6 years: $200-250 per hour
- Annual: $150-250 thousand
Captain (narrow-body, 737/A320):
- $300-360 per hour
- Annual: $300-450 thousand+
Captain (wide-body, 787/777/A350):
- $380-450+ per hour
- Annual: $400-600 thousand+
Why exactly this much? Several factors have converged simultaneously:
- Pilot shortage after COVID
- Mass retirements
- Aggressive competition between airlines
- Strong unions
- Growth in air travel
Airlines find it easier to pay a captain $400,000 than to cancel flights.
How to reach such income levels?
1. Flight school/CPL/ATPL
2. Regional airline (2-5 years)
3. Major airline (FO)
4. Upgrade to captain
5. Transition to wide-body aircraft or active premium class flights.
On average:
- 10-15 years from zero to top earnings
- Thousands of dollars in initial investment
- Irregular schedule, nights, jet lag
It’s not easy money, but it’s good money.
Perhaps in another life I would have become a pilot. If I weren’t afraid of flying and heights. 🤪
Have a good flight! ✈️
