American Airlines Pilot Salary 2026
First Officer and Captain pay from the 2023 American Airlines–APA contract. Updated .
How much does a American Airlines pilot make in 2026?
On its latest verified scale (January 1, 2024), an American Airlines First Officer earns $116.05 an hour in year 1 on every fleet, rising to $305.50 by year 12. Captains earn $331.01 to $447.24 an hour. At 1,000 credit hours a year that is about $116K for a new First Officer and $447K for a senior Captain.
- First Officer, year 1
- $116.05/hr
- First Officer, top
- $305.50/hr
- Captain, year 1
- $331.01/hr
- Captain, top
- $447.24/hr
American Airlines pilot pay scale 2026
| Yr | FOB777 +1 | FOA319 +4 | CaptB777 +1 | CaptA319 +4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $116.05 | $116.05 | $410.37 | $331.01 |
| 2 | $221.35 | $178.45 | $413.70 | $333.61 |
| 3 | $259.02 | $208.82 | $417.09 | $336.23 |
| 4 | $265.29 | $213.87 | $420.44 | $338.95 |
| 5 | $271.63 | $219.01 | $423.82 | $341.71 |
| 6 | $278.51 | $224.58 | $427.14 | $344.44 |
| 7 | $286.26 | $230.87 | $430.51 | $347.16 |
| 8 | $292.82 | $236.20 | $433.83 | $349.87 |
| 9 | $296.02 | $238.73 | $437.19 | $352.65 |
| 10 | $300.04 | $241.98 | $440.53 | $355.28 |
| 11 | $302.72 | $244.20 | $443.87 | $358.06 |
| 12 | $305.50 | $246.47 | $447.24 | $360.85 |
Hourly rates are what the contract pays per credit hour. Rough annual equivalent: rate × 1,000 credit hours (year-1 First Officer ≈ $116,050; top Captain ≈ $447,240). Profit sharing, per diem and retirement contributions are on top.
Full contract table: all 3 aircraft groups, years 1–12
| Aircraft | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yr 3 | Yr 4 | Yr 5 | Yr 6 | Yr 7 | Yr 8 | Yr 9 | Yr 10 | Yr 11 | Yr 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B777 / B787 | 116.05 | 221.35 | 259.02 | 265.29 | 271.63 | 278.51 | 286.26 | 292.82 | 296.02 | 300.04 | 302.72 | 305.50 |
| A321neo / A321XLR / B737 MAX 10 (block-hour rate) | 116.05 | 183.63 | 214.89 | 220.13 | 225.52 | 231.16 | 237.53 | 243.10 | 245.56 | 249.64 | 252.71 | 255.69 |
| A319 / A320 / A321 / B737-800 / B737 MAX 8 | 116.05 | 178.45 | 208.82 | 213.87 | 219.01 | 224.58 | 230.87 | 236.20 | 238.73 | 241.98 | 244.20 | 246.47 |
| Aircraft | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yr 3 | Yr 4 | Yr 5 | Yr 6 | Yr 7 | Yr 8 | Yr 9 | Yr 10 | Yr 11 | Yr 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B777 / B787 | 410.37 | 413.70 | 417.09 | 420.44 | 423.82 | 427.14 | 430.51 | 433.83 | 437.19 | 440.53 | 443.87 | 447.24 |
| A321neo / A321XLR / B737 MAX 10 (block-hour rate) | 340.36 | 343.25 | 346.03 | 348.84 | 351.81 | 354.55 | 357.17 | 360.13 | 362.69 | 366.59 | 370.54 | 374.36 |
| A319 / A320 / A321 / B737-800 / B737 MAX 8 | 331.01 | 333.61 | 336.23 | 338.95 | 341.71 | 344.44 | 347.16 | 349.87 | 352.65 | 355.28 | 358.06 | 360.85 |
Sources and verification
Caveat: we could not read American Airlines' pilot agreement itself. These figures come from the published sources below, cross-checked where we could; the note at the end says exactly what is and is not confirmed.
2023 American Airlines–APA contract. Rates in force from January 1, 2024. Checked on .
- AirlinePilotCentral - American Airlines (two pay-table images 'Captain/First Officer - Effective 1/1/2024')Secondary source · confirms: Full FO and CA tables, years 1-12, all aircraft, effective 1/1/2024. The page text is stale (quicktake 'last updated April 4, 2021') and has no 2025 or 2026 table
- UPA 2023 contract (United-ALPA) January 2024 bid-period tablesPrimary source · confirms: Every transcribed AA 1/1/2024 row (except the AA-only A380/B747 row) equals a United January 2024 row to the cent - consistent with AA's snap-up to United rates
- APA: Agreement in Principle on TA 2.0 (2023-07-27)Primary source · confirms: AA rates increase to match United/Delta after their snap-up clauses, and AA annual raises move from May 2 to the preceding January 1
- ALPA Economic & Financial Analysis contract comparison, v1.2 (2023-09-11)Primary source · confirms: If UPA23 ratifies, AA raises: +5% 1/1/2024, +4% 1/1/2025, +4% 1/1/2026, +3% 1/1/2027
2023 American-APA collective bargaining agreement (ratified Aug 2023). THESE ARE 2024 RATES, NOT 2026. The current (1/1/2026) table should be about 8.2% higher (two +4% steps), and because AA 2024 equals United's January 2024 bands to the cent, AA 2026 very likely equals United's January 2026 bands (e.g. B777/B787 CA yr12 $483.74, FO yr12 $330.44; narrowbody FO yr1 $125.52) - but I could not confirm this from an APA or AA source, so it is NOT in the tables. AA's table also lists A350/A340/A330/B767-400 at the widebody rate, B757/B767-200/300/A300 at the A321neo rate, A220-300/MD-80/737-700/-900/MAX 7/MAX 9 at the narrowbody rate, plus A380/B747, A220-100/E-jet E2, E195, E190/CRJ1000/MRJ-100 placeholder rows - all omitted because AA mainline does not fly them.
Before American Airlines pays you any of this, you sit their aptitude battery.
Sit a timed practice paper free — no account. Scored on pace as well as accuracy, because pace is what the real battery culls on.
On top of the hourly rate
- Scheduled raises after these rates
- +4% on 1/1/2025 and +4% on 1/1/2026 (then +3% on 1/1/2027) per the ALPA comparison of the AA/APA deal; the resulting 2026 table was NOT found in any reachable source
- Per diem (TA 2.0)
- $2.85/hr domestic, $3.40/hr international; international override CA $7.00, FO $5.00 (2023 figures)
- Monthly guarantee
- Lower limit of the Average Line Value (no fixed number); reserve 73 h long call / 76 h short call (2023 ALPA comparison)
How American Airlines pay compares
Same currency, ranked by top Captain pay. New First Officer pay sits in the lighter bar. Contract rows are hourly rates × 1,000 credit hours a year.
- Delta Air Lines ContractCapt $484KFO yr 1 $126K
- United Airlines ContractCapt $484KFO yr 1 $126K
- FedEx Express ContractCapt $469KFO yr 1 $113K
- American Airlines (this page) ContractCapt $447KFO yr 1 $116K
What it takes to get hired at American Airlines
Checked against American Airlines' official careers pages on October 3, 2026. Full American Airlines recruitment guide
| Certificate | Unrestricted ATP certificate (a Restricted ATP does not meet the mainline questionnaire) |
|---|---|
| Medical | Valid FAA First Class medical |
| Radio permit | FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit |
| Age | 23 to 65 |
| Authorisation and travel | Legally authorised to work in the US and able to travel without restriction to every country American serves; fluent English |
From student pilot to American Airlines Captain
The hour figures are the FAA legal minimums (14 CFR Part 61); the time ranges are typical, not promises.
Step 1
Private Pilot certificate
40 h minimum 3–6 months 14 CFR 61.109Ground school, the FAA Private Pilot knowledge test (60 questions, 70% to pass), then the checkride. Most students log well over the 40-hour legal minimum.
Try free FAA Private Pilot written questionsStep 2
Instrument rating
50 h cross-country PIC + 40 h instrument 2–4 months 14 CFR 61.65Flying by reference to instruments in cloud. Another FAA knowledge test and checkride.
Step 3
Commercial Pilot certificate
250 h total 6–12 months 14 CFR 61.129The certificate that lets you be paid to fly. Add a multi-engine rating here or later.
Step 4
Build time (usually as a flight instructor)
250 → 1,500 h 1–2 yearsMost pilots instruct (CFI) or fly charter/survey to reach airline minimums.
Step 5
ATP minimums
1,500 h (R-ATP: 1,250 / 1,000 / 750) 14 CFR 61.159 / 61.160Restricted ATP at 1,250 h with an aviation associate degree, 1,000 h with a bachelor's, 750 h for qualifying military pilots. The ATP CTP course comes before the ATP knowledge test.
Step 6
Regional or entry-level airline First Officer
Turbine and Part 121 time 2–4 yearsWhere most US major-airline pilots build turbine and pilot-in-command time.
Step 7
American Airlines First Officer
Airline-specificPay steps up every year of seniority on the contract scale.
Step 8
American Airlines Captain
Seniority-based upgrade Depends on seniority and growthCaptain seats are bid by seniority; how fast you hold one depends on hiring and retirements, not on your logbook alone.
Knowing what American Airlines pays is the easy part. Getting through their selection is the part that decides whether you ever earn it.
Before a human reads your application there is an aptitude battery, and candidates consistently report it as the heaviest cull — pace, not difficulty. You can practise it here for free: timed papers generated fresh each run, plus a divided-attention drill that measures how much your performance degrades under load.
Already past the paperwork and preparing for the panel? , scored against the answers a panel is listening for. Seven days of access, no subscription.
No American Airlines pack yet — want it built?
We will not pretend to have one. We build the next pack for the airline that gets asked for most, so leaving your address here is a vote. No sequence, one email when it ships.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a American Airlines pilot make in 2026?
On its latest verified scale (January 1, 2024), an American Airlines First Officer earns $116.05 an hour in year 1 on every fleet, rising to $305.50 by year 12. Captains earn $331.01 to $447.24 an hour. At 1,000 credit hours a year that is about $116K for a new First Officer and $447K for a senior Captain.
How much does a American Airlines First Officer make in the first year?
$116.05 an hour in year 1 under 2023 American Airlines–APA contract, the same on every fleet. At 1,000 credit hours that is about $116,050 a year.
How much does a American Airlines Captain make?
American Airlines Captains earn $331.01 an hour (year 1, A319 / A320 / A321 / B737-800 / B737 MAX 8) up to $447.24 an hour (year 12, B777 / B787). At 1,000 credit hours a year the top rate is about $447,240 before profit sharing.
Do American Airlines widebody pilots earn more than narrowbody pilots?
Yes. In year 12 a B777 / B787 Captain earns $447.24 an hour versus $360.85 on the A319 / A320 / A321 / B737-800 / B737 MAX 8; First Officers earn $305.50 versus $246.47. Which aircraft you can hold depends on seniority.
Is American Airlines hiring pilots in 2026?
American Airlines is hiring pilots, according to its official careers pages as of October 3, 2026. Openings change month to month, so check the live posting before you apply.
What do you need to fly for American Airlines?
Certificate: Unrestricted ATP certificate (a Restricted ATP does not meet the mainline questionnaire) Medical: Valid FAA First Class medical Radio permit: FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit
Where do these American Airlines pay figures come from?
From 2023 American Airlines–APA contract. We read it on October 3, 2026 via: AirlinePilotCentral - American Airlines (two pay-table images 'Captain/First Officer - Effective 1/1/2024'); UPA 2023 contract (United-ALPA) January 2024 bid-period tables; APA: Agreement in Principle on TA 2.0 (2023-07-27); ALPA Economic & Financial Analysis contract comparison, v1.2 (2023-09-11).
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