How much do captains make vs First Officer?

First officers at major airlines earn around $10,000 to $18,000 per month, while captains can easily earn over $20,000 per month during their first year as a captain. Experienced captains at major carriers like Delta or American Airlines have been reported to earn between $30,000 to $40,000 per month.



In 2026, the pay gap between an airline Captain and a First Officer (FO) remains significant, reflecting the Captain's ultimate legal responsibility for the aircraft. At major U.S. carriers like Delta or United, a Senior Captain can earn between $350,000 and $450,000 per year, while a Senior First Officer typically earns between $230,000 and $320,000. For "Junior" roles, the difference is even more stark; a first-year First Officer at a major airline might start at roughly $90,000 to $120,000, whereas a newly promoted Captain will immediately jump to the $250,000+ bracket. Pilots are generally paid an hourly rate for actual flight hours (usually 75–85 hours per month), with Captains earning a significantly higher "per hour" rate—often $100 to $150 more than the FO. In regional airlines, the scales are lower, but the ratio remains the same, with Captains typically making about 1.5x to 2x the salary of the First Officer seated next to them.

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A First Officer in aviation is a commercial airline pilot who helps navigate and operate flights. They work in the cockpit with the Captain to assist them with the flight. They sit in the right seat and are the second in command (SIC), while the Captain sits in the left seat and is the pilot in command (PIC).

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Some students ask themselves, “Am I too old to become a pilot?” and wonder how long they will be able to pursue a career in the air. No one is too old to attend flight school, as long as they are physically capable of operating an aircraft.

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Senior first officers who have been with the airline for a number of years have their loyalty rewarded by being promoted to captain. This is done in seniority order. However, this isn't the only way to become a captain.

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As a rough guide, you can expect to make between £40,000 – £60,000 in your first year as a pilot in the UK. For example, a 'second officer' at Easyjet will receive roughly £47,000 yearly, not including flight pay. You can expect to fly between 700-900 hours per year.

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For instance, Southwest Airlines pilots earn an average annual salary of $222,000. However, some Southwest pilots earn as much as $549,000. Similarly, United Airlines pilots earn an average of $205,000. The average Delta Airlines pilot earns $192,000 with top-earners making $526,000.

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The typical easyJet Captain salary is £127,205 per year. Captain salaries at easyJet can range from £115,664 - £184,160 per year. This estimate is based upon 19 easyJet Captain salary report(s) provided by employees or estimated based upon statistical methods.

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Some pilots choose “good” schedules over being a captain on a less desirable schedule. Many factors; family, second job, hobbies, residence (commuting to work from another city), reserve flying (no real schedule except days off, maybe), destinations, etc., go into each different pilot's decision.

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Salary Details for an Airline Pilot at Ryanair The estimated base pay is $118,630 per year. The Most Likely Range represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.

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Additionally, we'll discuss factors such as age, work stress levels, deployment frequency and more that may influence marital satisfaction amongst pilots worldwide. Pilots have a divorce rate of 30.5%, according to a study conducted on various professions.

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In the U.S., there are no FAA age limits for pilots except for commercial airline pilots employed by airlines certificated under 14 CFR Part 121. These airlines cannot employ pilots after they reach the age of 65. However, these pilots may stay on with a Part 121 carrier in some other role, such as flight engineer.

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In the U.S., there are no FAA age limits for pilots except for commercial airline pilots employed by airlines certificated under 14 CFR Part 121.

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Yes, airplane pilots can wear glasses. (And many do.) If you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, you can still become a commercial, private, or military pilot. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the military have certain minimum standards for prospective pilots.

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