The middle 50% earn between $121,000 and $298,000 annually.
The top 25% earn between $298,000 and $768,000 annually.
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Pilots' pay is reaching astronomical levels, with some of the most experienced aviators earning up to $700,000. The industry's pilot shortage is likely to continue for a few years and airlines are negotiating bumper new contracts, which means pay is expected to keep rising.
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.
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.
Salary is based on the size of the jet flown as well as their years of service and a charter pilot's salary can rage anywhere from $60k-$200k. Unlike a regional pilot, a charter pilot has a widely varying schedule since they are often “on-call”.
Boeing 777 pilots are some of the highest-paid pilots in the aviation industry. On average, their salaries range from $120,000 to $250,000 annually, depending on the amount of experience and number of hours flown.
The level of pay inflation is astonishing. Just look at the figures. The average annual salary for airline pilots, co-pilots, and flight engineers was $225,470 in May 2022—up from $198,190 the previous year, according to the latest available Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
The USA is one of the top countries for flight training. It is home to some of the world's oldest and most reputed universities and training institutions. It is also globally acknowledged for its flight education curriculum.
What if an airline does not have enough flying for a pilot? Fortunately, most pilot employment contracts and CBAs include a monthly hour minimum. This minimum requires the company to pay its pilots for a minimum number of flight hours, regardless of whether those hours are flown.
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.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for airline pilots is around $202,180. Medical doctors came in with a salary of $208,000, lawyers $127,990 and engineers with a median annual wage of $79,840.