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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThere is no single salary for pilots at American Airlines, Delta Air Lines or United Airlines: pay varies by seat, aircraft, years of service and contract date. In one comparable 12-year widebody pay-table example, all three list the same hourly rates effective January 1, 2026: $483.74 for a captain and $330.44 for a first officer. Those are contract rates—not guaranteed annual salaries.
Comparable pilot pay rates at the Big 3
The figures below come from a 2025 comparison published by Delta’s Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). They are the listed hourly rates for pilots at the 12-year service step in the widebody grouping shown, not starting rates or a complete comparison of all pilot jobs.
| Effective date | Seat | American | Delta | United |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Captain | $483.74 per hour | $483.74 per hour | $483.74 per hour |
| January 1, 2026 | First Officer | $330.44 per hour | $330.44 per hour | $330.44 per hour |
| January 1, 2027 | Captain | $498.25 per hour | $483.74 per hour | $498.25 per hour |
| January 1, 2027 | First Officer | $340.35 per hour | $330.44 per hour | $340.35 per hour |
Source: Delta Master Executive Council, ALPA, 2025 comparison. The comparison’s fleet and order data are dated June 30, 2025; the table above uses its pay rates only.
Why hourly rates are not annual salaries
A pay-table rate is an hourly figure. Turning it into an annual earnings estimate requires an assumption about monthly credited hours or a contractual minimum, and actual compensation can also depend on premiums and other contract provisions. Without those assumptions, multiplying the hourly rate by a guessed number of hours would imply an annual salary the comparison does not establish.
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The available comparison does not establish a fully comparable annual total-compensation figure across every seat, aircraft type and service-year step at all three airlines. For an individual pilot, the relevant pay-table row depends on the aircraft, whether the pilot is a captain or first officer, service year and the contract’s effective date.
What contract changes and benefits add to the picture
American
American pilots ratified a four-year contract in 2023. The Associated Press reported union estimates of at least 41% wage increases and more than 46% growth in total compensation value over the contract’s four years. Those are contract-wide estimates, not a guaranteed raise or annual salary for every pilot.
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Associated Press report on the American agreement.
United
United pilots ratified a four-year contract in 2023. The Associated Press reported the union valued the agreement at more than $10 billion and that it runs through September 30, 2027. The contract-wide valuation is not an amount paid to an individual pilot.
Associated Press report on the United agreement.
Delta
Delta describes its pilot compensation package as including base pay, profit sharing and 401(k) contributions. Those components matter when assessing total compensation, but Delta’s careers page is the airline’s own description and does not provide an independently verified, like-for-like benefits valuation against American and United.
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Delta pilot careers and compensation information.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare pilot pay accurately
- Match the seat: captain rates are not comparable to first-officer rates.
- Match aircraft category and service year; the example above is specifically a 12-year widebody comparison.
- Use the pay-table effective date, since rates can change under a contract.
- For an annual estimate, state the credited-hours or guarantee assumption and identify which premiums or other compensation are excluded.
- Compare profit sharing and retirement contributions separately from hourly wage rates.
ALPA notes that pilot groups negotiate pay, work rules and benefits, and that its major-carrier pay guidance can change. Its guidance is current as of July 2025, so pilots evaluating a specific job should consult the applicable, current contract materials rather than treat a selected table as a complete compensation offer.
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ALPA pilot pay and benefits guidance.
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