Let’s check out how much Delta pilots make! Their most experienced captains can bring in over $400,000 every year. Pretty nice!
Some Key Points
- Pilot pay in the US varies a lot depending on experience, plane type, and who they fly for.
- Pilots typically start out at regional airlines, then move up to bigger airline jobs with better salaries.
- While Delta captains can make an awesome $404,000 per year, some other airlines actually pay a bit more.
Amidst the pilot shortage causing some headaches in the airline industry, looking at what pilots in charge of big jets earn has become a hot topic. Even with the average US pilot salary topping $200,000 last year, pay can differ quite a bit depending on various factors.
Starting the journey to become an airline pilot
Pilots at Delta and comparable carriers kick off their careers at regional airlines, working towards getting the required 1,500 flight hours that The Pilot Guys outline. Delta’s wholly-owned regional branch, Endeavor Air, which operates Delta Connection flights, can serve as a starting point for pilots beginning with them. They might also choose to fly with contractors like Republic Airways and SkyWest Airlines, which run Delta Connection and other major airlines’ regional flying.
Last year, regional airline pilots made between $50,000 up to $100,000+ during their first year on the job. The exact amounts depend on the airline, but overall pilot pay has seen a nice boost recently, a trend that will likely stick around thanks to the pilot shortage.
Moving up to mainline jobs
Upon transitioning to mainline gigs, new first officers usually earn $80,000 to $150,000, based on the pilot’s experience and the planes they’re working on. Delta has a huge fleet, including Boeing models like the 717-200, 737-800, 737-900ER, 757-200, 757-300, 767-300, and 767-400. They also have Airbus planes – the A220-100, A220-300, A319, A320, A321, A321neo, A330-200, A330-300, A330-900neo, and A350-900. These offer seasoned first officers nice earning potential ranging from $150,000 up to $225,000+.
The average for US pilots is around $200,000, depending on factors like airline, years flying, experience, and aircraft type.
As The Pilot Guys shared, a pilot’s early years are key for seeing major pay jumps.
“After finishing flight school and training, pilots typically get over a 70% salary boost from their first to their fifth year on the job, when the big bucks start rolling in.”
Projected salaries for first officers and captains
With around eight years under their belts, Delta first officers can expect to earn around $233,000 per year, according to info from Thrust Flight.
| Experience | Pay |
|---|---|
| 1st year | $110,000 |
| 5th year | $208,000 |
| 8th year | $233,000 |
Better pay typically comes with more experience, but some airlines also give raises for job title changes – going from first officer to senior first officer to captain. In the US, veteran captains working long hauls can make over $400,000 yearly.
Thrust Flight estimates Delta captain pay to top $340,000 per year.
| Experience | Pay |
|---|---|
| 1st year | $313,000 |
| 5th year | $323,000 |
| 12th year | $341,000 |
The salary projections for first officers and captains come from Delta’s recently endorsed 2022 pilot contract. As per The Pilot Guys, the lower 25% of Delta pilots make around $248,000, while the middle 50% make $248,000 up to $400,000.
Ever wonder who’s steering those big jets through the sky?
Pilots in the top 25% at Delta reportedly make $404,000 annually. But some other airlines actually pay a bit more, showing it’s a competitive industry.
| Ranking | Airline | Annual Flight Crew Salary (Top 25%) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Airlines | Between $298,000 and $768,000 |
| 2 | United Airlines | Between $299,000 and $675,000 |
| 3 | Southwest Airlines | Between $338,000 and $613,000 |
| 4 | Delta Air Lines | Up to $404,000 |
