Pay checked October 3, 2026 · read the caveatsUnited StatesHiring

Atlas Air Pilot Salary 2026

First Officer and Captain pay from the Atlas Air–Teamsters Local 2750 contract. Updated .

Renzo Madueño, former Airbus A320 First Officer (Avianca), FAA commercial pilot
Renzo Madueño
Former Airbus A320 First Officer (Avianca), FAA commercial pilot · Founder, Rotate Pilot
Writes from real airline cockpit and checkride experience — not a content farm.

How much does a Atlas Air pilot make in 2026?

On its latest verified scale (September 10, 2025), an Atlas Air First Officer earns $99.96 an hour in year 1, rising to $226.22 by year 12. Captains earn $192.47 to $332.68 an hour. At 1,000 credit hours a year that is about $100K for a new First Officer and $333K for a senior Captain.

First Officer, year 1
$99.96/hr
First Officer, top
$226.22/hr
Captain, year 1
$192.47/hr
Captain, top
$332.68/hr

Atlas Air pilot pay scale 2026

Atlas Air pilot pay by year of service — B747Yr 1: First Officer $131.68, Captain $253.55; Yr 2: First Officer $145.45, Captain $259.89; Yr 3: First Officer $181.14, Captain $266.38; Yr 4: First Officer $185.67, Captain $273.04; Yr 5: First Officer $190.31, Captain $279.87; Yr 6: First Officer $195.07, Captain $286.87; Yr 7: First Officer $199.95, Captain $294.04; Yr 8: First Officer $204.95, Captain $301.39; Yr 9: First Officer $210.07, Captain $308.92; Yr 10: First Officer $215.32, Captain $316.65; Yr 11: First Officer $220.70, Captain $324.56; Yr 12: First Officer $226.22, Captain $332.68CaptainFirst OfficerUSD per hour$253.55$332.68$131.68$226.22123456789101112Year of service
From published pay sourcesB747Every figure in a table
Atlas Air pilot pay per hour (USD) by year of service, rates in force from 2025-09-10. Source: the Atlas Air–Teamsters Local 2750 contract.
YrFOB747FOB737CaptB747CaptB737
1$131.68$99.96$253.55$192.47
2$145.45$118.73$259.89$197.28
3$181.14$137.50$266.38$202.21
4$185.67$140.94$273.04$207.27
5$190.31$144.47$279.87$212.45
6$195.07$148.08$286.87$217.76
7$199.95$151.78$294.04$223.20
8$204.95$155.57$301.39$228.78
9$210.07$159.46$308.92$234.50
10$215.32$163.45$316.65$240.37
11$220.70$167.54$324.56$246.38
12$226.22$171.72$332.68$252.54

Hourly rates are what the contract pays per credit hour. Rough annual equivalent: rate × 1,000 credit hours (year-1 First Officer ≈ $131,680; top Captain ≈ $332,680). The contract guarantees at least 64 hours a month. Profit sharing, per diem and retirement contributions are on top.

Full contract table: all 4 aircraft groups, years 1–12
First Officer — USD per hour
AircraftYr 1Yr 2Yr 3Yr 4Yr 5Yr 6Yr 7Yr 8Yr 9Yr 10Yr 11Yr 12
B747131.68145.45181.14185.67190.31195.07199.95204.95210.07215.32220.70226.22
B777114.37145.46176.54180.95185.48190.11194.87199.74204.73209.85215.10220.47
B76799.96138.36171.94176.24180.64185.16189.79194.53199.40204.38209.49214.73
B73799.96118.73137.50140.94144.47148.08151.78155.57159.46163.45167.54171.72
Captain — USD per hour
AircraftYr 1Yr 2Yr 3Yr 4Yr 5Yr 6Yr 7Yr 8Yr 9Yr 10Yr 11Yr 12
B747253.55259.89266.38273.04279.87286.87294.04301.39308.92316.65324.56332.68
B777247.11253.29259.62266.11272.76279.58286.57293.73301.08308.60316.32324.23
B767240.67246.69252.85259.17265.65272.29279.10286.08293.23300.56308.08315.78
B737192.47197.28202.21207.27212.45217.76223.20228.78234.50240.37246.38252.54

Sources and verification

Caveat: we could not read Atlas Air's 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.

Atlas Air–Teamsters Local 2750 contract (2021). Rates in force from September 10, 2025. Checked on .

Atlas Air-IBT (Local 2750) arbitrated JCBA, signed Sept 10, 2021, amendable Sept 10, 2026. Rates are the DOS+4 column of the arbitrated CBA (3% a year from DOS, Sept 10, 2021). The last step is assumed effective Sept 10, 2025, the 4th anniversary; the ALPA comparison confirms '3% annually through 9/10/2025'. The source is a conformed draft (rev 3) on the union site, not a signed final copy. Why 'partial': I could not confirm whether a later LOA changed first-year FO pay. AirlinePilotCentral shows $103 year-1 FO on all fleets, which matches no CBA cell, so year-1 FO values (131.68 / 114.37 / 99.96) are the least certain. The union site has no public news after 2022. Contract went amendable Sept 10, 2026, so a new deal could change everything. B777 FO year 2 (145.

Before Atlas Air 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.

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On top of the hourly rate

Minimum monthly guarantee
64 hours (74 hours for a pilot scheduled as a check/training instructor)
Profit sharing
Crew members share 10% of the company's annual pre-tax profits (Article 4)
Contract status
Last scheduled raise (DOS+4) was Sept 10, 2025; the CBA became amendable Sept 10, 2026, and rates stay at DOS+4 until a new agreement
Retirement (unconfirmed)
AirlinePilotCentral: 14% direct 401(k) contribution from 1/1/25 and 16% from 1/1/26, no match. The ALPA ATI comparison (2023) lists different steps (16% in 2023, 17% from 12/2/2026), so this needs a primary check

How Atlas Air 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.

What it takes to get hired at Atlas Air

Checked against Atlas Air's official careers pages on August 22, 2026. Full Atlas Air recruitment guide

CertificateFAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate, or a Restricted ATP where the pilot qualifies under 14 CFR §61.160
Total time — statutory floor1,500 hours, reduced under §61.160 to 1,250 with a qualifying associate degree, 1,000 with a qualifying bachelor's degree, or 750 for qualifying military pilots
MedicalFAA First Class
AuthorisationUnrestricted US work authorisation
OperationAtlas flies ACMI, charter and military airlift on widebody Boeing equipment, including support for the US military. Requirements are advertised with each crewmember posting; Atlas also runs a pilot talent community for when nothing is open.

From student pilot to Atlas Air Captain

The hour figures are the FAA legal minimums (14 CFR Part 61); the time ranges are typical, not promises.

  1. Step 1

    Private Pilot certificate

    40 h minimum 3–6 months 14 CFR 61.109

    Ground 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 questions

  2. Step 2

    Instrument rating

    50 h cross-country PIC + 40 h instrument 2–4 months 14 CFR 61.65

    Flying by reference to instruments in cloud. Another FAA knowledge test and checkride.

  3. Step 3

    Commercial Pilot certificate

    250 h total 6–12 months 14 CFR 61.129

    The certificate that lets you be paid to fly. Add a multi-engine rating here or later.

  4. Step 4

    Build time (usually as a flight instructor)

    250 → 1,500 h 1–2 years

    Most pilots instruct (CFI) or fly charter/survey to reach airline minimums.

  5. Step 5

    ATP minimums

    1,500 h (R-ATP: 1,250 / 1,000 / 750) 14 CFR 61.159 / 61.160

    Restricted 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.

  6. Step 6

    Regional or entry-level airline First Officer

    Turbine and Part 121 time 2–4 years

    Where most US major-airline pilots build turbine and pilot-in-command time.

  7. Step 7

    Atlas Air First Officer

    Airline-specific

    Pay steps up every year of seniority on the contract scale.

  8. Step 8

    Atlas Air Captain

    Seniority-based upgrade Depends on seniority and growth

    Captain seats are bid by seniority; how fast you hold one depends on hiring and retirements, not on your logbook alone.

Knowing what Atlas Air 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.

Practise the aptitude stage — freeSee the interview prep

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 Atlas Air 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 Atlas Air pilot make in 2026?

On its latest verified scale (September 10, 2025), an Atlas Air First Officer earns $99.96 an hour in year 1, rising to $226.22 by year 12. Captains earn $192.47 to $332.68 an hour. At 1,000 credit hours a year that is about $100K for a new First Officer and $333K for a senior Captain.

How much does a Atlas Air First Officer make in the first year?

$131.68 an hour in year 1 under Atlas Air–Teamsters Local 2750 contract (2021). At 1,000 credit hours that is about $131,680 a year; the contract guarantees at least 64 hours a month ($101,130 a year at the minimum).

How much does a Atlas Air Captain make?

Atlas Air Captains earn $192.47 an hour (year 1, B737) up to $332.68 an hour (year 12, B747). At 1,000 credit hours a year the top rate is about $332,680 before profit sharing.

Do Atlas Air widebody pilots earn more than narrowbody pilots?

Yes. In year 12 a B747 Captain earns $332.68 an hour versus $252.54 on the B737; First Officers earn $226.22 versus $171.72. Which aircraft you can hold depends on seniority.

Is Atlas Air hiring pilots in 2026?

Atlas Air is hiring pilots, according to its official careers pages as of August 22, 2026. Openings change month to month, so check the live posting before you apply.

What do you need to fly for Atlas Air?

Certificate: FAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate, or a Restricted ATP where the pilot qualifies under 14 CFR §61.160 Total time — statutory floor: 1,500 hours, reduced under §61.160 to 1,250 with a qualifying associate degree, 1,000 with a qualifying bachelor's degree, or 750 for qualifying military pilots Medical: FAA First Class

Does Atlas Air pay profit sharing to pilots?

Profit sharing: Crew members share 10% of the company's annual pre-tax profits (Article 4). Profit sharing is paid on top of the hourly rates above.

Where do these Atlas Air pay figures come from?

From Atlas Air–Teamsters Local 2750 contract (2021). We read it on October 3, 2026 via: Atlas Air-IBT CBA (conformed draft rev 3, eff. 1/1/22), Article 3.A rate tables, DOS+4 column, hosted by Teamsters Local 2750; ALPA ATI contract comparison (Sept 2023); AirlinePilotCentral Atlas Air profile.

Atlas Air pilot pay 2026: First Officer and Captain hourly rates by year of service, from the Atlas Air–Teamsters Local 2750 contract
Atlas Air pilot pay 2026: First Officer and Captain hourly rates by year of service, from the Atlas Air–Teamsters Local 2750 contract. Free to share with a link to this page.

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