Ask anyone enrolled in an aviation program what salary they'll make when they finally achieve that dream job at a major airline. Most will be unsure. For the record, then, the table below is the best estimates of minimum pilot pay today at some of the mainline jet carriers courtesy of FltOps.com (800-JET-JOBS).
So the money has been shown. Is it worth it?
- Wayne Phillips
| Major Airline Pay Survey | Annual pay (regular guarantee) and aircraft size | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Airline | Total | Regular | Reserve | First year | Fifth year | Tenth year captain | Max |
| Air Tran | 1,449 | 70 | 70 | $35,910 B717/B737 | $60,488 B717/B737 | $120,960 B717/B737 | $128,159 B717/B737 |
| Alaska | 1,455 | 75 | 75 | $40,986 B737 | $89,703 B737 | $149,328 B737 | $154,800 B737 |
| American | 11,987 | 64 | 73 | $30,984 MD80 | $78,413 B757 | $121,966 MD80 | $157,294 B777 |
| Continental | 5,025 | 72 | 72 | $26,940 B737 | $81,924 B757 | $144,288 B737 | $166,882 B777 |
| Delta | 12,394 | 65 | 70 | $40,630 DC9/B737 | $78,928 B757/767 | $111,376 DC9/B737 | $156,538 B777/B747 |
| FedEx | 4,679 | 68 | 65 | $50,971 B727 | $106,796 B727 | $172,053 B-727 | $210,825 MD11, A300/310 |
| JetBlue | 2,009 | 70 | 75 | $42,300 E190 | $76,902 A320 | $116,995 E190 | $133,308 A320 |
| Southwest | 5,915 | 87 | 90 | $49,572 B737 | $108,847 B737 | $177,344 B737 | $181,270 B737 |
| United | 7,025 | 70 | 70 | $27,392 A320/B737 | $80,598 B757/767 | $112,535 A320/B737 | $159,508 B777/B747 |
| UPS | 2,901 | 75 | 75 | $31,824 All | $130,709 All | $221,338 All | $231,231 All |
| US Airways | 5,200 | 72 | 72 | $21,600 E190 | $64,800 A320 | $105,408 A320 | $138,240 A330 |
| Total | 60,039 | ||||||
| Average | 5,458 | $36,283 | $87,101 | $141,236 | $165,278 | ||
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