What airline pilots make the most money?

Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, and Singapore Airlines are commercial airlines that pay the highest pilot salaries.



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For instance, Qatar pilots average $173,000-187,000 annually. Additionally, China Southern Airlines starts its pilots at $228,000 per year. An average Lufthansa pilot earns $102,000 annually. The average (mean) salary in 2022 was $225,740, and the median salary was $211,790.

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Traditionally a pilot at a regional airline might start out earning less than $50,000 per year, but get hired on by a major airline and that goes up quickly into the six figures, and well over $300,000 for senior captains flying widebody aircraft overseas. Some earn over $400,000.

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The estimated total pay for a Airline Pilot at Delta Air Lines is $172,083 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated base pay is $115,617 per year.

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How much does a Pilot make at UPS in the United States? Average UPS Pilot yearly pay in the United States is approximately $275,666, which is 304% above the national average.

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The top pay for a Delta Airlines Captain is approximately $205,000, but those flying a Boeing 777 can potentially earn $298,500 per year plus bonuses, or as much as $350,000 in one year.

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Average Southwest Airlines Pilot yearly pay in the United States is approximately $119,068, which is 78% above the national average. Salary information comes from 62 data points collected directly from employees, users, and past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months.

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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.

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The average Delta Airlines pilot earns $192,000 with top-earners making $526,000. American Airlines pilots earn an average salary of $118,000, with some pilots earning in excess of $700,000.

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Factors Affecting Pilot Salaries - Aircraft Type
The type of aircraft a pilot flies plays a significant role in determining their salary. Generally speaking, pilots who fly larger, heavier aircraft can earn higher salaries than those who fly smaller planes.

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Sun Country has the lowest pay rate for first year pilots at $31, with SkyWest at $49 and Republic at $50. First year pilots at regional airlines can expect to make as little as $15 (Cape Air) or as much as $76 (Corvus).

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Average FedEx Pilot yearly pay in the United States is approximately $248,663, which is 264% above the national average.

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Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, and Singapore Airlines are commercial airlines that pay the highest pilot salaries.

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Free Flights
As well as ID90 travel, some airlines offer their pilots a number of 'confirmed tickets' for free every year. This will usually guarantee a seat on the aircraft and would usually be for a seat in First or Business Class.

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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.

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Airline pilots fly an average of 75 hours per month and work an additional 150 hours per month performing other duties, such as checking weather conditions and preparing flight plans. Pilots have variable work schedules that may include some days of work followed by some days off.

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The average Delta Airlines pilot earns $192,000 with top-earners making $526,000.

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Ideally, becoming a pilot should only take 3 to 4 years, the time it takes to get your Bachelor of Science in Professional Flight. Getting an education is also good for a consistency of training, so it's preferred to wait to start your journey until you are in a certified school, like LETU.

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In the United States, the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) limit pilots to 36 flight hours in a week, 100 hours in 672 hours (28 days), and 1,000 hours in a 365-day calendar period.

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