How much do pilots make?
There are a lot of answers to how much pilots make, but we’ll break it down as simply as possible.
Flight Training Costs
The cost of flight training can be a hurdle for some. However, you can be in a net positive in as little as three years. Once you hit your career path (airlines, cargo, etc), the benefits significantly outweigh the initial costs. A captain at Delta Air Lines can make $447 per hour or more during premium trips.
Flight School (Year 1)
-$45,000
Flight Instructor (Year 2)
-$10,000
First Officer (Year 3)
+$83,000
First Officer (Year 4)
+$206,000
Captain (Year 5)
+$365,000
Pilot Pay By Airline
There are a lot of unknowns when calculating exactly how much you’ll make. Things like premium pay, per diem (travel expenses), 401k contributions, profit sharing, and overtime can drastically increase your pay. For example, some airlines have premium trips that you can pick up for up to 300% your normal rate!
American
Legacy
Delta
Legacy
United
Legacy
PSA
Regional
Piedmont
Regional
$116/hr
First Officer Min
$125/hr
First Officer Min
$114/hr
First Officer Min
$96/hr
First Officer Min
$96/hr
First Officer Min
$320/hr
First Officer Max
$330/hr
First Officer Max
$302/hr
First Officer Max
$114/hr
First Officer Max
$114/hr
First Officer Max
$211/hr
Captain Min
$211/hr
Captain Min
$210/hr
Captain Min
$153/hr
Captain Min
$153/hr
Captain Min
$469/hr
Captain Max
$447/hr
Captain Max
$442/hr
Captain Max
$221/hr
Captain Max
$221/hr
Captain Max
16%
401K Contribution
17%
401K Contribution
17%
401K Contribution
1.5+%
401K Contribution
1+%
401K Contribution
Profit Sharing
Profit Sharing
Profit Sharing
Profit Sharing
Profit Sharing
U.S. airline pay can range from
$96,000 - $600,000+
per year
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