Being an airline pilot is one of the most admired jobs in the world. Pilots fly large aircraft and travel the globe. They constantly meet new people. And they have always earned competitive salaries. But the aviation industry is rebounding and travelers are returning after more than two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, in combination with 5,000 early retirements during COVID the United States is facing its worst pilot shortage in history.
According to Kit Darby, a Pilot Career Consultant and a retired United captain, U.S. major airlines are trying to hire more than 12,000 pilots combined this year alone. That’s more than double the previous record in annual hiring. To solve the pilot shortage, US airlines are raising pay scales while offering generous sign-on bonuses for new hires at smaller Regional airlines.
Traditionally, airline pilot salaries are determined by factors such as aircraft size, duty position – Captain/First Office, seniority with the airline, and regional vs national airline. To illustrate what US airlines are currently paying pilots, Kit Darby complied the chart below which highlights starting pay,` average pay, and pay for the most experienced pilots by month and by year at the U.S. Major Airlines.
For example, a First Officer with one year of experience flying the smallest aircraft at a U.S. airline can expect to make an average of $6,699 per month or $80,385 annually. At the other end of the spectrum, a senior Captain flying the largest aircraft in the fleet makes an average of $24,288 per month or $291,459 a year. Cargo pilots have similar salaries to passenger airline pilots with First Officers that fly small aircraft making an average of $79,157 per year and Senior Captains flying the largest aircraft making an average of $300,706 per year.
Being a pilot is a rewarding career for many reasons – pay, benefits, retirement, time off, and schedule flexibility to name a few. With increasing pay, choosing a career as a pilot is even more attractive than ever.
Source: KitDarby.com
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