A Look At The Salaries Of Airline Pilots In The US In 2025

Pilot salaries vary pretty widely in the United States, from around $50,000 per year to over $300,000 for highly qualified and experienced pilots. The highest pay is for the mainline carriers of the “big three:” American Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. Cargo pilots at operators like FedEx, UPS, and Atlas Air can make similar pay, as can pilots for budget carriers like Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit.

The biggest gap comes with the pay for regional airlines and other small carriers, where new pilots typically fly as they train for higher certifications to get into the seat of a major carrier’s jet. Training and education is very expensive for aspiring commercial pilots, which can mean the early stages of a pilot career are far from luxurious.

There is a major shortage of airline pilots in the US. There is also a shortage of military pilots transitioning to commercial flying as recruiting struggles and drones have replaced more and more manned aircraft. There is, however, a great opportunity to make a career with high pay and exceptional benefits as an airline pilot in the US, with a triple-digit salary readily possible.

The road to achieving that, however, is challenging, and the lifestyle is hard for many. So let’s get into the nitty-gritty of how much it pays to fly a jetliner and what the landscape of the career field looks like in 2025.

Credit: Delta Air Lines

ATP Flight School says that pilot pay in 2024, compared to 2023, showed a nearly $10,000 increase year over year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states in the May 2024 Occupational Outlook Handbook that airline pilot pay varies greatly, with the average annual compensation for a commercial pilot being $122,670. For airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers, the median yearly salary is $226,600.

Airline pilots will start out as first officers, and as they gain seniority and experience, they can earn higher pay, better benefits, and be promoted to captain. Pilots earn additional compensation for international flights with many carriers and receive expense allowances in many cases (per diem) when they are away from home. Free or discounted flights are also typically available to airline pilots and their immediate families as well.

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Pilots fly 75 hours a month on average, and also put in 150 hours a month on other tasks like planning flights and monitoring weather conditions. Federal regulations mandate the maximum number of hours pilots can work and the minimum amount of time they must rest in between flights. Pilots work a variety of different schedule structures, sometimes working for several days without a break and then taking a few days off.

Due to frequent overnight layovers demanded by flight operations, airline pilots regularly spend multiple nights away from home each week. Airlines pay for hotel stays, airport transportation, and provide a stipend for meals and other costs when pilots are away. Schedules for commercial pilots can be erratic depending on conditions and changes to operations. Even if a commercial pilot usually spends the night close to home, they might still work irregular hours.

The Roadmap To The Cockpit

Credit: US Air Force

Airline pilots typically require a bachelor’s degree in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines like transportation or engineering, but it is not a hard requirement in many cases. A lot of pilots have business degrees or even humanities backgrounds. They will go on to complete flight training with flight instructors or at schools that offer training in compliance with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The FAA certifies hundreds of civilian flight schools, which range from small fixed base operators (FBO) to state universities. Some colleges and universities offer pilot training as part of a 2- or 4-year aviation degree as well. Airline and commercial pilots who are newly hired by airlines or on-demand air services companies undergo on-the-job training in accordance with federal regulations after they start.

Type ratings are for specific aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 or Cessna Citation. These are often acquired through employer-funded training and generally are offered to pilots who have already earned a commercial pilot certificate.

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Here’s an overview of pay across the US pilot career field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

Pilots typically get their FAA-issued certificates and ratings in the following order: student pilot certificate, private pilot certificate, instrument rating, commercial pilot certificate, multi-engine rating, and airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate. Each certificate and rating requires that pilots pass a knowledge test on the ground and a practical flying exam, usually called a check ride, in an appropriate aircraft.

Some pilots work as flight instructors or on-demand charter pilots, positions that usually require less experience than airline jobs require, to help build enough flying hours so that they can apply to the airlines. Due to the shortage of pilots in the US, some carriers are beginning more comprehensive training pipelines managed in-house, like Alaska Airlines’ Ascend program. The program takes a new candidate from day zero to ATP with a clear career path laid out.

The Job Description

Credit: US Air Force

Advancement for airline pilots depends on a system of seniority outlined differently by each carrier and from collective bargaining with the Air Line Pilot’s Association (ALPA). Important general skills for pilots to perform their duties are: clear communication, observational skills, problem-solving skills, and quick reaction time.

The captain, usually the most experienced pilot, supervises all crew members and has primary responsibility for the flight. Pilot duties include checking the aircraft’s condition, performing weight and balance calculations, ensuring it has adequate fuel supply, and ensuring that weather conditions are acceptable. They prepare and submit flight plans to air traffic control, communicate with air traffic control (ATC) throughout the flight, monitor engines, fuel consumption, autopilot, and other aircraft systems as conditions change.

Takeoff and landing are the most demanding parts of a flight, requiring close coordination among the pilot, copilot, and ATC. The captain is responsible for the aircraft from as soon as he signs for it until he parks it at the end of the flight, even though the first officer also flies the aircraft. Pilots fill out records after landing to document their flight and the aircraft’s status to maintain meticulous safety, maintenance, and performance records.

Serving The Nation And Your Career

Credit: US Navy

To become an airline pilot through the military, one must complete a rigorous officer and flight training program in one of the military’s aviation branches. After fulfilling their service commitment, they can transition their military flying experience and flight hours to obtain civilian licenses, like an ATP certificate.

There are three main ways to become a pilot in the military: ROTC, a service academy, or Officer Candidate School (OCS). Undergraduate pilot training (UPT) is an intensive program that teaches the fundamentals of flying. That is followed by advanced flight training for specific aircraft. After completing UPT, pilots are assigned fleet aircraft and complete final training.

After serving for several years, veteran pilots have valuable experience flying in complex and high-pressure situations. To transition, they must obtain a Commercial Pilot certificate by submitting official military records, including proof of an honorable discharge and graduation from an armed forces pilot training school.

Credit: US Air Force

Fixed-wing pilots can receive multi-engine and instrument ratings without a flight test. Helicopter pilots need to complete fixed-wing training to earn their civilian airplane pilot certificates. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) credits most military flying time toward the total hours needed for a civilian license. Pilots seeking an ATP certificate must complete a course and pass a knowledge test.

Some carriers have a transition program, like United and Envoy, which provide guidance and job offers to military aviators. Some airlines also offer dedicated transition programs for military helicopter pilots to assist with fixed-wing training. If you want to be an airline pilot, the military route is far from the easiest choice, but if you would like to serve your country, it provides a great career transition for life after stepping out of the uniform.