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Despite exceptionally high training costs, becoming a pilot has always been considered an incredibly lucrative career for those with the right qualities. In the age of ultra-low-cost aviation, legacy carriers have bucked the cost-cutting trend by keeping pilots’ salaries high, but is this still the case in 2026?
Read on to discover which of the US’s legacy carriers pays its pilots the most in 2026, depending on the amount of experience they have. I then cover how legacy pay compares with the US average and how US pilot earnings compare with other regions. I finish up with thoughts on how airlines decide how much to pay pilots and the perks of flying that go beyond earning an incredibly high wage.
What Are The Legacy Carriers Paying Pilots In 2026
Pilot training giant Epic Flight Academy has pulled together estimates for pilots’ pay for all major carriers in 2026 based on their level of experience, from one to twelve years. The data suggests that pilots should start their careers at Delta Air Lines, with pilots with a year’s experience earning well over $400,000 a year. Delta pilots also earn the most after six years’ experience, but American Airlines’ pay slightly overtakes Delta at year 12. Meanwhile, salaries at United Airlines are substantially lower at all experience points, being over $100,000 lower than those at Delta Air Lines at each milestone.
The data for America’s three main legacy carriers is set out comprehensively below. Epic Flight Academy notes that the data was last updated in January 2026:
|
Carrier |
Year One |
Year Six |
Year Twelve |
|---|---|---|---|
|
American Airlines |
$331,010 |
$354,550 |
$469,590 |
|
Delta Air Lines |
$426,790 |
$444,230 |
$465,130 |
|
United Airlines |
$323,000 |
$336,000 |
$352,000 |
It should be noted that these salaries are estimates based on pilots who have reported their earnings, rather than a comprehensive average across all pilots. Furthermore, there are plenty of alternative ways to group the data. For example, in their end-of-2025 reports on pilot salaries, which should be similar to those at the start of 2026, Aviation A2Z lists each carrier’s first officer and pilot salaries. The website claims United Airlines captains make $447,996 per year (hourly rate approximately $373.33) and first officers earn $144,828 per year, approximately $120.69 per hour. It claims American Airlines first officers earn $118.31 per hour or $106,000 per year, while captains earn $291,600 to $369,000. Finally, it claims that Delta Air Lines’ first officers make $118.31 per hour, or $106,000 a year, with captains earning an average of $405,000 to $460,000 a year.
How Legacy Carrier Pay Compares With Industry Averages
ATP Flight School has collected data on expected industry-average pay for 2026, based on typical monthly flight hours of 75 to 85. They reveal that all legacy carriers pay well above the market average, coming in at the top range for both first officers and captains. The data also shows a clear correlation between a pilot’s experience and how much they can expect to earn.
The table below shows each of the key data points revealed by ATP Flight School.
|
Data point |
Average earnings |
|---|---|
|
Median Airline Pilot Salary (U.S.) |
$226,600 |
|
Typical Commercial Pilot Salary |
$122,670 |
|
Entry-Level (10th Percentile) |
$98,560 |
|
Top-End (90th Percentile) |
$300,000+ |
|
First Officer Pay Range |
$70,000 – $150,000+ |
|
Captain Pay Range |
$150,000 – $450,000+ |
The data also shows a gradual increase in airline salaries in the post-pandemic era, which has consistently been slightly above inflation, which has been around 2.5% recently. Median pilot salaries in the US rose from $202,180 in 2021 to $226,600 in 2022. The year-on-year increase ranged from 3.4% to 4.5%, with the largest increase being $9.60 (4.5%) from 2021 to 2022.
A Look At The Salaries Of Commercial Airline Pilots In The US In 2026
Salaries in the industry have continued to rise.
How US Legacy Carriers Compare To Colleagues In Other Regions
ATP Flight School has also collected data comparing different regions across the globe in terms of pilots’ salaries. Given that the USA has the world’s largest economy, far larger than even China, and a blooming aviation sector, it is unsurprising that North America leads the way.
Asia is next with a median annual salary for pilots of $100,000, according to the International Air Transport Association. This high salary is due to the growing aviation sector, particularly in China. The Middle East and East Asia have also seen significant growth. The highest wages can be found at prestigious carriers like Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific. Such airlines are looking to attract the world’s most talented pilots away from legacy carriers.
Meanwhile, Europe is known for its relatively low pilot salaries, which average around $90,000 according to the European Cockpit Association. The extreme prominence of low-cost carriers in the UK and continental Europe partially explains this dynamic. Still, Europe’s flag carriers, the equivalent of the US’s legacy carriers, maintain decent pilot salaries, with examples including Lufthansa and British Airways.
Regional Airlines Are Starting To Catch Up
Landing a lucrative job with a legacy carrier has always been challenging for pilots. Regional and low-cost carriers have long been a way to get a leg up, granting pilots the experience they need for a big role. Such work used to be infamously poorly paid, but that is changing as these carriers also need to attract more pilots within their fast-paced sector. An example is SkyWest Airlines, whose year-one first officers can expect to earn $90.90 per flight.
Epic Flight Academy has also collected data on what pilots can expect to earn at non-legacy carriers, showing some truly enticing salaries, particularly for early-career pilots who haven’t successfully applied for a legacy carrier role:
|
Airline |
Year One |
Year Six |
Year Twelve |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Allegiant Air |
$163,000 |
$197,000 |
$230,000 |
|
Frontier Airlines |
$202,000 |
$231,000 |
$270,000 |
|
Southwest Airlines |
$334,000 |
$347,000 |
$364,000 |
|
Spirit Airlines |
$275,000 |
$294,000 |
$318,000 |
|
Sun Country Airlines |
$220,470 |
$252,220 |
$294,000 |
|
WestJet Airlines |
$136,000 |
$177,000 |
$210,000 |
Regional carriers also get creative with alternative forms of compensation. Bonuses and pathway programs provide pilots with opportunities to advance their careers and earn additional income beyond their hourly or base pay.
What Is The Typical Salary For A Delta Air Lines Pilot?
Pilot salaries can vary considerably based on rank, seniority, and the type of aircraft being flown.
What Influences How Much A Pilot Earns?
No carrier pays a pilot purely based on their experience and the role they take in the cockpit. A pilot’s earnings start at an hourly rate for each hour spent in the skies in a month. Although these sit at around 80 hours a month for most pilots, these professionals have a range of on-the-ground responsibilities not factored into this equation, necessary because US aviation regulations restrict pilots to 1,000 hours of flight time a year. These rates are often negotiated with carriers by pilots’ trade unions rather than by individual pilots.
Aircraft type also dictates pay. Generally, the larger the aircraft, the more the pilot operating it earns, and widebody pilots earn more than their narrowbody colleagues. This often aligns with experience, as pilots who have been with a company longer are more likely to bid for lucrative widebody jet assignments.
Pilots also receive per diem allowances, paid depending on how long they are away from base. These payments are designed to offset the costs pilots incur, such as meal expenses. It should be noted that airlines will arrange and cover the costs of accommodation and transport while pilots are away from base. Other benefits essential for American aviators are generous 401(k) retirement plans, health, vision, and dental insurance, and paid time off. Carriers also offer their pilots a range of ‘golden handshake’ bonuses, such as for signing on for the first time, being promoted to captain, and completing training or type rating for a new aircraft.
Becoming An Airline Pilot Has Its Perks
Shutterstock | Simple Flying
The benefits that pilots expect extend well beyond base salary and hourly pay, regardless of whether they are flying with a regional, low-cost, or legacy airline. Pilots and their dependents get access to non-revenue or standby flying. They can list as standby passengers to reach their desired holiday destination, and if a seat becomes available, they can usually travel for free. This perk can also apply to flights operated by a pilot’s employer’s partner airlines. This benefit has its limitations, as pilots have to be flexible depending on when a seat becomes available.
Aviation is also a unique career in the modern era because those involved have no risk of taking work home with them. They don’t have to deal with any work-related responsibilities during their time off because off-duty time firmly belongs to the pilot. This is particularly important as regulations on how much time pilots can spend flying aircraft each month are strictly regulated. Junior pilots, in particular, may have more time off than usual.
The final perk has nothing to do with salary. It is the chance to live a life purely dedicated to aviation. This is the dream for any avgeek. Pilots get to spend every day traveling around the world, enjoying stunning views from the cockpit, and working with some of the most impressive machines ever built.
