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There is no single U.S. airline-captain salary for 2025. Pay varies by airline contract, aircraft, seat and seniority. For a comparable snapshot, a 12-year B-737-800 captain’s contract rate effective January 1, 2025, ranged from $361.29 to $379.10 per hour at five major airlines. Those are hourly contract rates—not guaranteed annual earnings. Separately, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a May 2025 median annual wage of $232,140 for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers combined, not captains alone.
2025 contract rates for a 12-year B-737-800 captain
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) comparison lists these captain rates effective January 1, 2025. Each figure applies to the same aircraft type and seniority step, making this a more like-for-like comparison than an unspecified “captain salary.”
| Airline | 12-year B-737-800 captain rate |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $361.29 per hour |
| Delta | $373.33 per hour |
| United | $373.33 per hour |
| American | $375.28 per hour |
| Southwest | $379.10 per hour |
These are contract hourly rates for one seat, aircraft and seniority point. They are not starting rates, average captain earnings or annual salaries. The comparison does not provide the paid or credited hours or other compensation needed to establish an equivalent annual figure. ALPA says its broader pay-rate information was current as of July 2025 and subject to change; individual rates may change under later agreements.
Why aircraft and seat change the comparison
Aircraft matters
In ALPA’s comparison, the 12-year captain rate effective January 1, 2025, was $389.34 per hour for the B-767 at both Delta and United, compared with $373.33 per hour for each on the B-737-800. A rate should therefore be read alongside the aircraft it covers.
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Captain and first officer are different seats
The same 12-year B-737-800 comparison lists first officer rates of $254.99 per hour at Delta and United, $256.33 at American, $249.76 at Alaska and $265.37 at Southwest. A figure for a first officer should not be presented as a captain rate.
What the national wage statistics say—and do not say
The BLS reported a May 2025 median annual wage of $232,140 for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers combined. The median is the midpoint: half of workers in that occupation earned more and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $106,710, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $463,830. These are occupational figures, not captain-only salary benchmarks.
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Within the same combined occupation, the BLS reported May 2025 median annual wages of $293,240 in scheduled air transportation and $334,930 in courier and express delivery services. These industry medians still combine airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers; they do not isolate airline captains.
Why there is no one U.S. captain rate
Airline pilot pay is negotiated by pilot groups, and agreements differ in pay, work rules and benefits. ALPA explains that “There is no cookie-cutter approach to collective bargaining,” referring to differences in each group’s contract goals and negotiating process. A useful comparison identifies the airline and contract, rate date, aircraft, seat, seniority step, and whether it describes hourly contract pay or actual annual compensation. Benefits, bonuses and retirement contributions should also be distinguished where relevant.
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An hourly contract rate alone cannot establish annual earnings. Annual pay depends on credited or paid hours and may also involve compensation elements not shown in the rate table. Multiplying an hourly rate by an assumed number of hours can produce an illustration, but it is not a sourced salary unless the hours and assumptions are stated and justified. The cited ALPA comparison does not establish an equivalent annual salary for each captain rate.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Career context
The BLS says airline pilots typically need a bachelor’s degree and experience as a commercial or military pilot. Airline and commercial pilots must also meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements. Those qualifications provide context for the occupation, but they do not determine an individual captain’s pay rate.
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