Let’s take a closer look at the average salaries for different types of pilots.

How much do pilots make on average?

The median annual wage for commercial pilots and flight engineers in the United States ranges from $202,180 to $211,790, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (). The typical base salary for airline pilots in the United Kingdom is approximately 拢90,000, whereas in Europe, the average salary for commercial pilots is around 鈧�125,000. However, regional airline pilots typically earn less than this. According to Glassdoor, the average base salary for a regional airline pilot is .听听

In terms of the pay differences between first officers and captains, captains generally earn more due to their higher level of responsibility and experience. According to data from Salary.com, the average salary for a , while the average salary for a captain is . 

How much do pilots earn at various airlines?

Some airlines may offer higher salaries to attract more experienced or qualified pilots, while others may operate different pay scales based on seniority or type of aircraft flown. 

According to Glassdoor, the average base salary for a commercial airline pilot at Delta Air Lines is . The average base salary for a pilot at easyJet is around . At American Airlines, a pilot精东影业 average base annual salary is . 

These are just a few examples, and salaries can vary widely based on individual factors such as experience, tenure and the type of aircraft flown. 

For military pilots 

Military pilots, particularly those in the Air Force and Navy, can earn a considerable salary while also receiving various other benefits such as housing allowances and healthcare. The exact salary for military pilots varies depending on their rank and years of service.  

As for officers, their basic pay is typically higher. A newly commissioned officer’s basic pay starts at an . A more experienced officer with an O-4 pay grade and over 10 years of service can expect to receive an estimated annual salary of $99,000. 

For airline transport pilots 

Airline transport pilots (ATPs) have the highest achievement of pilot certification in the aviation industry, and they often work for commercial airlines, or on cargo planes and other aircraft. ATPs are typically required to have at least 1,500 hours of flight experience and an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate. 

For helicopter pilots 

Helicopter pilots typically earn slightly less than their fixed-wing counterparts. According to the BLS, the median annual wage for helicopter pilots is $77,200. Specifically, the lowest 10 percent of earners received a salary below $39,430, while the top 10 percent earned above $147,240. 

For flight instructors 

Flight instructors play a crucial role in providing guidance and instruction to individuals who wish to learn how to pilot an aircraft. According to Salary.com, the median annual wage for flight instructors is . The income for individuals in this field varies greatly, with the lowest 10 percent of earners receiving less than $102,893 and the top 10 percent earning more than $126,003.聽

Salary of private jet pilots 

The salary of private jet pilots varies depending on several factors such as experience, employer, and type of aircraft flown. According to , the average salary of a private jet pilot in the United States is around $104,975 per year. However, this can vary widely, from $61,000 to over $190,000 per year.聽

Private jet pilots are typically required to have at least a commercial pilot’s license with instrument and multi-engine ratings, along with several thousand hours of flight experience. Some employers may also require a type rating for the specific type of aircraft flown. 

Private jet pilots might work for private individuals, corporations, or charter companies, and their job duties can include flying the aircraft, maintaining it and ensuring the safety of passengers and crew. 

As mentioned earlier, the salary of a private jet pilot can vary based on the size and type of aircraft flown. For example, flying a small business jet may bring in a lower salary compared to flying a large, long-range luxury jet. 

Private jet pilots can also receive additional benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans and travel perks.  

The announcement will bring the airline精东影业 cumulative pay rises to 9% in the last year, with 4% given in May 2022 and 5% in April 2023.  

According to the memo, the raise includes:  

• A 5% base pay increase for ground and flight attendant employees worldwide at all steps of the pay scale. 

• A 5% pool for eligible merit employees worldwide.聽

鈥淎ll employees worldwide are included, other than those covered by an industry or government requirement or collective bargaining agreement,鈥� Bastian said.  

Raise backed by $563 million profit share pool 

The pay increase comes just weeks after Delta employees learned that they had earned $563 million in profit sharing after it reported strong earnings and a , the airline noted in a recent 听听

Delta employees will receive a profit-sharing payment on February 14, 2023 that equates to 5.57% of their eligible 2022 earnings, the statement continued. 

The airline has delivered 12 base pay increases that add up to an average of 80% increase in base pay in the last 15 years, the statement added.  

In December 2022, Delta Air Lines also offered a 34% cumulative pay raise to its pilots over three years.聽

Delta offers pilots a 34% pay rise in new three-year labor deal: report

• Airlines

byMichael Jonga

December 5, 2022

The regional carrier of American Airlines (A1G) (AAL) said the offer is available for pilots who can accept a conditional job offer by the end of the year. Pilots who are already qualified to sit in the left-hand seat (the captain精东影业 side) will receive $100,000 and pilots who are close to upgrading to captain will receive $75,000 if they commit to Piedmont for two years. 

鈥淲e are in a unique position to say to pilots 鈥榗ome to Piedmont, help us expand our fleet and our routes, and here精东影业 a big check to spend while you do it,鈥� announced Eric Morgan, Piedmont精东影业 CEO.  

Why does Piedmont need pilots? 

The big bonus from Piedmont comes at a time when airlines in North America are fighting to attract and keep their pilots. Many retired or left the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic and with training costs high, there are not enough new pilots coming through the flight schools and with the hours to replace those who have left the commercial carriers.  

Have US airlines done enough to keep their pilots?

• Airlines

byMichael Jonga

September 16, 2022

The regional carrier said that it has a gap in 2023 and 2024 between the number of airplanes it wants to fly and the captains needed to fly them.  

鈥淲e鈥檙e looking for pilots who can bring their knowledge and experience to Piedmont, fly in the left seat and get us through that 24-month time period,鈥� Morgan said, adding pilots will also be able to take advantage of the fact that Piedmont supplies crew to American Airlines (A1G) (AAL).  

Piedmont精东影业 bonus offer, announced on November 15, 2022, replaces its current pilot retention bonuses that expire at the end of the year. The new bonus is paid upfront, whereas previously multiple bonuses were paid over a five-year period.  

What else does Piedmont offer? 

Several American carriers are negotiating pay contracts with their pilots, and unions have rejected offers for being too low, a sign of how tight the labor market is.  

United pilots reject pay offer, union calls for further talks

• Airlines

byVictoria Bryan

November 2, 2022

Piedmont with the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) in June to raise starting pay for all pilots, in a deal that also included new work rules, enhanced bid schedules and additional hotel rooms for commuting pilots.  

Piedmont announced plans to add 15 Embraer 145s to the fleet in August 2022 as part of its expansion. The airline plans to grow at American精东影业 Charlotte and Philadelphia hubs and noted it has also been asked to take on new routes out of Chicago starting in December. 

The airline had offered a tentative agreement in June, consisting of a 14.5% pay increase within 18 months. But this was rejected by 94% of the record 9,980 United pilots who participated in a vote, according to union ALPA on November 1, 2022. 

鈥淭his TA fell short of the industry-leading contract United pilots have earned and deserve after leading the airline through the pandemic and back to profitability,鈥� the statement said. 

Other major airlines have been offering higher pay increases in the light of an ongoing pilot shortage in the United States. American Airlines (A1G) (AAL) has offered a 19% pay increase, for example.  

鈥淏y the Company精东影业 own admission, this agreement missed the mark,鈥� said United Master Executive Council chair Capt. Mike Hamilton in . 鈥淭hat精东影业 why both parties agreed to re-engage at the bargaining table for a new, improved agreement. It is vital United management recognizes that an industry-leading contract is required to hire, train, and retain the best pilots in the world for the United Next growth plan to succeed.鈥�   

Have US airlines done enough to keep their pilots?

• Airlines

byMichael Jonga

September 16, 2022

However, Hamilton said United management was delaying returning to talks on a new contract and that the union intended to start 鈥渁 series of informational picketing events鈥� with the aim of bringing management back to the negotiating table to get a new deal.  

The announcement comes a day after Delta pilots gave their support to union ALPA to carry out strike if needed in talks over a new contract.  

Delta pilots give backing for strike action in ongoing pay talks

• Airlines

byVictoria Bryan

November 1, 2022

Under the deal, basic monthly pay will be increased by 鈧�250 ($248) from 1 January 2023, and by an additional 2.5% from 1 July 2023. 

Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) said the agreement, which also includes flexible part-time models, will help ensure its attractiveness as an employer.  

鈥淥ur cabin personnel in the lower and mid-range salary groups will particularly benefit from the agreement we have reached,鈥� commented Michael Niggemann, Chief Officer Human Resources and Labor Director of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. 鈥淎nd the flexible new work hours models offer prospects, perspectives and appealing working terms and conditions that are closely aligned to the needs of our cabin personnel.鈥� 

The new collective pay agreement means starting salaries for cabin personnel will be increased by over 17%, while cabin personnel at the highest salary grade will receive a pay increase of about 9% in their basic monthly pay. 

What about other Lufthansa employees? 

Employees across the Lufthansa Group in Germany have been pushing for higher pay and better conditions in 2022, given ongoing staff shortages across the aviation industry. Ground crew and staff at the main Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) brand and its Eurowings low-cost brand have carried out strikes to put pressure on management to agree better deals.  

The airline announced in August 2022 that it had agreed 鈥渟ignificant鈥� pay increases for 20,000 ground staff, with check-in employees for example, set to receive a pay increase of between 13.6-18.4%. 

Negotiations with pilots鈥� union VC are ongoing, but the two sides agreed a no-strike deal after management said it would offer pay increases during the period to July 2023.  

At low-cost carrier Eurowings, three days of strikes in October 2022 cost the airline 鈧�30 million ($29.8 million). Lufthansa Group chief executive Carsten Spohr told analysts on October 27, 2022 that Eurowings had made a 鈥渇air offer鈥� and eased some working conditions but improving the offer further would endanger the low-cost business model. 

鈥淎nd that’s why they have not given in and that’s indeed why they were forced to reduce the size of the German fleet by five aircraft due to additional cost,鈥� Spohr said. 

• Lufthansa agrees pay deal with ground staff, attention now on pilots, cabin crew 

• Lufthansa pilots agree to ‘no strike’ deal until June 2023 

• Eurowings pilots plan new 3-day strike 

Their union, the Air Line Pilots鈥� association (ALPA) said a contract was long overdue, noting that the current pay rates and benefits were negotiated back in 2016.  

鈥淭oday, Delta精东影业 nearly 15,000 pilots sent a clear message to management that we are willing to go the distance to secure a contract that reflects the value we bring to Delta Air Lines as frontline leaders and long-term stakeholders,鈥� said Capt. Jason Ambrosi, chair of the Delta Master Executive Council, in an ALPA statement on October 31, 2022. 

ALPA said over 96% of members participated in the strike authorization ballot, with 99% giving their backing to union leaders to take strike action if necessary.   

Many major US carriers are currently negotiating pilot contracts, with a shortage of qualified crews helping to drive up pay demands.  

For example, American Airlines (A1G) (AAL) has offered its pilots a new contract that includes a 19% pay increase over two years.  

American Airlines offers to increase pilot pay by 19%

• Airlines

byJean Carmela Lim

November 1, 2022

How long have the negotiations been going? 

ALPA noted that Delta has rebounded from the pandemic, achieving record revenue for the third quarter.  

鈥淢eanwhile, our negotiations have dragged on for too long,鈥� Ambrosi said. 鈥淥ur goal is to reach an agreement, not to strike. The ball is in management精东影业 court. It精东影业 time for the Company to get serious at the bargaining table and invest in the Delta pilots.鈥� 

Delta posts record revenue thanks to surging travel demand

• Aviation Economics & Finance

byVictoria Bryan

October 14, 2022

Talks for a new contract at Delta had initially started in April 2019. An agreement wasn鈥檛 reached, and mediation started in February 2020. However, that was paused for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with mediated talks resuming in January 2022.   

Before Delta pilots can strike, however, the National Mediation Board must first rule that additional mediation efforts would not be productive and offer arbitration. If either side declines, a 30-day 鈥渃ooling off鈥� period starts and only then can the union go on strike.  

With staff shortages across the aviation industry globally, there have already been several strikes as part of pay negotiations in summer 2023. German airline group Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) has seen strikes by both ground crews and flight crew, while air traffic controllers in France have also launched industrial action.  

One in two flights canceled in France over ATC strike

• Civil Aviation

byClement Charpentreau

September 14, 2022

Alaska Airlines on October 17, 2022, that the new contract includes significant improvements including increased pay, greater flexibility, better benefits and stronger job security.

The new deal comes amidst a shortage of pilots in North America, with many airlines in talks for bumper pay rises to keep staff. 

Have US airlines done enough to keep their pilots?

• Airlines

byMichael Jonga

September 16, 2022

ALPA said that with 96% of eligible Alaska Airlines pilots casting ballots, 82% voted in favor of the new agreement.

Alaska Airlines Pilots Overwhelmingly Ratify Collective Bargaining Agreement

鈥� Alaska Airlines Pilots (@AlaskaPilots)

鈥淥ur goal was to negotiate an agreement where our pilots could make Alaska Airlines a lifelong career,鈥� Captain Will McQuillen, chairman of the Alaska Airlines Master Executive Council, said in a statement. 

McQuillen further said:鈥淭his contract is good for our pilots and their families and also good for our airline.鈥�

ALPA said that prior to this current agreement, Alaska Airlines pilots had been working for over a decade under conditions and wages that trailed many of their peers.

In May 2022, pilots agreed to authorize a strike should talks with management fail to reach an agreement. 

The new contract, effective immediately, includes the following:

• Wage increases up to 23% depending on years of service. Top-of-scale captains will now make $306 per hour, which increases to $330 after two years. A market rate adjustment will keep pilots in line with peers at other airlines in the years ahead.

• ALPA-designed schedules and increased flexibility for pilots to adjust their schedules.

• Stronger job security to ensure Alaska pilot growth alongside company growth.

• Retirement contribution increases and no increase to health care costs.

Alaska Airlines ground staff reach new pay deal, bumping up salaries

• Airlines

byJean Carmela Lim

August 8, 2022

 

Like other carriers globally, Qantas suffered with staff shortages during the bounce-back in demand after the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to delays and cancelations. Unit Jetstar had a particularly tough time in September, with six of its 11 widebody aircraft being grounded at the same time for various reasons, ranging from lightning strikes, a bird strike, damage from runway debris and difficulties getting spare parts.  

Jetstar grounds several Boeing 787 Dreamliners due to technical faults

• Aircraft

byGabriele Petrauskaite

September 6, 2022

The Jetstar aircraft are now back in service, Qantas revealed in a market update on October 13, 2022, in which it also announced pay increases for staff and said it expected a return to profit in the first half of its current financial year. 

For the first six months of its current financial year, Qantas expects underlying profit before tax of between AUD1.2 billion and AUD 1.3 billion ($744-$806 million), the first time it will be back in the black since the pandemic. 

鈥淪ince August, we鈥檝e seen a big improvement in our operational performance and an acceleration in our financial performance,鈥� Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said in the statement. 鈥淚t精东影业 been a really challenging time for the national carrier but today精东影业 announcement shows how far we鈥檝e come.鈥�  

The airline said it is investing a further AUD200 million for the remainder of FY23 to improve the reliability of operations, such as by rostering additional crew, and training of new recruits. Qantas said it was also being more conservative with regards to scheduling, meaning 20% of the group精东影业 flying capacity will be left in reserve and can be called upon to reduce delays and cancellations. 

鈥淚t精东影业 clear that maintaining our pre-COVID service levels requires a lot more operational buffer than it used to, especially when you consider the sick leave spikes and supply chain delays that the whole industry is dealing with,鈥� Joyce explained. 鈥淭hat means having more crew and more aircraft on standby and adjusting our flying schedule to help make that possible, until we鈥檙e confident that extra support is no longer needed.鈥�  

In good news for staff, Qantas said it is changing a pay policy affecting around 20,000 people and implementing a pay increase after a two-year pay freeze.  

Last week, Qantas CEO Joyce was quoted as saying that he was looking for a progress report from Airbus on the status of airline deliveries, notably the A350s ordered for Project Sunrise for non-stop flights between Sydney and London and New York.  

“I think every airline would be after certainty on the time-frames, if they come a month later it doesn’t make much difference, if it’s six months or a year, that can make a big difference,” Joyce told Bloomberg in an interview.  

What do we know about Qantas Airways鈥� 鈥楶roject Sunrise鈥� so far?

• Aviation in Australia

byGabriele Petrauskaite

May 23, 2022

The Allied Pilots Association (APA), representing up to 15,000 American Airlines (A1G) (AAL) pilots, is seeking a 20.4% pay increase over three years, according to the union精东影业 new president Ed Sicher. 

American Airlines offer pilots 17% pay increase amidst industry staffing woes

• Airlines

byMichael Jonga

July 1, 2022

However, Sicher told Forbes he reckons AA will accept its proposal for a 20.4% pay increase, highlighting that it is in management精东影业 interest to get a deal within the next 30-60 days to achieve reliable scheduling before the fall and winter vacation periods. 

The German flag carrier said it has agreed significant pay increases for around 20,000 ground staff. Management said they hoped the deal would show that they are ready to reach deals in upcoming pay negotiations with pilots and cabin crew.  

The deal with union Verdi rules out any further strikes by ground staff, who work in roles from check-in to maintenance and aircraft push-back. However, pilots have held a vote in which they overwhelmingly said they would be prepared to strike.   

Lufthansa scraps almost all Frankfurt & Munich flights on July 27 due to strike

• Airlines

byVictoria Bryan

July 26, 2022

鈥淲e have agreed large salary increases,鈥� commented Deutsche Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) head of HR Michael Niggemann. 鈥淚t was important that those on lower pay received an over-proportional increase. This means we are meeting our social responsibilities to employees and ensuring our attractiveness as an employer.鈥�  

Verdi said for example, that a check-in employee would now receive a pay increase of between 13.6-18.4% and welcomed the fact that Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) dropped a proposal to link pay increases to company performance.  

鈥淭his deal compensates for rising inflation and also comprises an increase in pay in real terms. It was important for us to achieve this balance, in order to provide support for employees in these economically difficult times,鈥� said Verdi chair Christine Behle.  

Under the deal agreed with union Verdi, staff will receive pay increases, staggered over an 18-month period. They will receive a fixed amount of 鈧�200 euros per month, backdated to July 1, 2022. Then they will receive a 2.5% pay increase from January 1, 2023, with a minimum increase of 鈧�125, plus another 2.5% from July 2023.  

For those on salaries of 鈧�2,000 a month, that精东影业 equivalent to a 19.2% pay rise over the course of the 18-month contract, Lufthansa (LHAB) (LHA) said. Staff on 鈧�6,500 a month will see increases of 8.3% under the deal.  

The pay deal now has to be approved by members.