Does Southwest Airlines pay employees well?

The average Southwest Airlines salary ranges from approximately $40,000 per year for Administrator to $164,797 per year for Software Architect. Average Southwest Airlines hourly pay ranges from approximately $10.50 per hour for Barista to $50.32 per hour for Aircraft Mechanic.



Southwest Airlines is widely regarded as one of the better-paying major carriers in the United States, especially when considering total compensation. As of 2026, the average annual salary for a Southwest employee is approximately $99,952, with many roles ranging from $87,000 to $118,000 based on experience and location. Top earners in specialized or senior roles can exceed $148,000 annually. Beyond the base pay, the company is famous for its profit-sharing program, which has historically contributed significant bonuses to employee retirement accounts. Additionally, Southwest offers a "Culture of Caring" that includes excellent flight benefits, 401(k) matching, and comprehensive healthcare. While starting wages for ground crew and flight attendants are more modest, the rapid pay-scale progression and union-backed contracts ensure that long-term employees are among the best compensated in the domestic aviation industry.

People Also Ask

Employees have free, unlimited travel privileges for themselves and eligible dependents on Southwest Airlines. Eligible dependents include spouse or committed/registered partner, eligible dependent children under 19 years old (or up to 24 if a full-time student), and parents.

MORE DETAILS

Southwest Named a Best Place to Work by Glassdoor 21 on Glassdoor's Best Places to Work.

MORE DETAILS

People come first. We're a Company that takes care of its People and its communities, and our People take care of each other. (We're Cohearts, after all!) Our unique Southwest® Culture is woven into all aspects of our business, from we treat each other to how we provide Next-Level Hospitality to our Customers.

MORE DETAILS

The average Southwest Airlines hourly pay ranges from approximately $19 per hour for a Ticket Agent to $131 per hour for an Airline Pilot. Southwest Airlines employees rate the overall compensation and benefits package 4.2/5 stars.

MORE DETAILS

As the Freibergs write in their book: “The real secret to Southwest's success is having one of the most highly motivated and productive work forces in the world. They are motivated by a sense of fairness that says, 'We want your well-being to be tied to the company's well-being because, after all, you are the company.

MORE DETAILS

For aspiring flight attendants, Delta Air Lines, ranked by its employees as one of the best places to work, is also one of the most difficult places to get a job. It's harder to get invited to Delta flight attendant training than it is to get into Harvard University.

MORE DETAILS

We were fully staffed. “In fact, we hit our -- we beat our hiring goals in 2022. A lot of that is set up for our 2023 capacity. We're having no trouble hiring, including having no trouble hiring pilots.

MORE DETAILS

Employees at Southwest Airlines stay with the company for 5.6 years on average.

MORE DETAILS

Southwest Airlines scored higher in 10 areas: Overall Rating, Culture & Values, Diversity & Inclusion, Work-life balance, Senior Management, Compensation & Benefits, Career Opportunities, CEO Approval, Recommend to a friend and Positive Business Outlook.

MORE DETAILS

In con- trast, Southwest Airlines, recently named one of the country's 10 best places to work, experi- ences the highest rate of employee retention in the airline industry. Satisfaction levels are so high that at some of its operating locations, employee turnover rates are less than 5% per year.

MORE DETAILS

But, since the company was founded, even before our first flight on June 18, 1971, we've been extremely selective in our hiring. So far this year, for example, we've reviewed 287,422 resumes, chosen 102,112 candidates to interview, and hired only 6,582 people, or less than 2% of all applicants.

MORE DETAILS

Southwest Airlines employees rate the overall compensation and benefits package 4.2/5 stars. The highest-paying job at Southwest Airlines is an Airline Pilot with a salary of $275,426 per year. The lowest-paying job at Southwest Airlines is a Ticket Agent with a salary of $40,024 per year.

MORE DETAILS

Southwest Airlines' business model is based on extremely efficient operations, low-cost pricing, and innovative logistics solutions. Furthermore, their strategy also includes a deep focus on customer experience and looking ahead. Finally, none of this would be possible without a motivated team of employees.

MORE DETAILS

While its peers are slowing growth in flying to address rising fuel costs, Southwest Airlines Co. has an additional reason: a shortage of workers.

MORE DETAILS

The average American Airlines salary ranges from approximately $38,941 per year for Flight Attendant to $144,421 per year for Database Administrator. Average American Airlines hourly pay ranges from approximately $11.00 per hour for Security Officer to $46.74 per hour for Data Analyst.

MORE DETAILS

Roughly 82 percent of Southwest Employees are represented by a Union. Our goal is to maintain collective bargaining agreements that take care of our Employees, the Company, and Shareholders in ways that support our Vision to become the world's most loved, most flown, and most profitable airline.

MORE DETAILS

You will be assigned a boarding group (A, B, or C) and position (1-60+) upon check in. Your unique group and position combination (for example: A35) will be displayed on your boarding pass and represents a reserved spot in the boarding group at the gate.

MORE DETAILS