FedEx Express Pilot Salary 2026
First Officer and Captain pay from the 2026 FedEx–ALPA agreement. Updated .
How much does a FedEx pilot make in 2026?
In 2026 a FedEx First Officer earns $113.39 an hour in year 1, rising to $332.49 by year 15 on the top-paying fleet. Captains earn $327.84 to $469 an hour. At 1,000 credit hours a year that is about $113K for a new First Officer and $469K for a senior Captain, before profit sharing and per diem.
- First Officer, year 1
- $113.39/hr
- First Officer, top
- $332.49/hr
- Captain, year 1
- $327.84/hr
- Captain, top
- $469/hr
FedEx Express pilot pay scale 2026
| Yr | FOB777F +3 | FOB757 +1 | CaptB777F +3 | CaptB757 +1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $117.54 | $113.39 | $386.72 | $327.84 |
| 2 | $266.70 | $218.58 | $429.64 | $364.30 |
| 3 | $267.07 | $227.47 | $430.51 | $366.13 |
| 4 | $272.40 | $232.43 | $432.24 | $368.15 |
| 5 | $277.86 | $237.56 | $433.94 | $370.22 |
| 6 | $283.40 | $242.82 | $435.71 | $372.23 |
| 7 | $289.07 | $248.14 | $437.46 | $374.27 |
| 8 | $294.82 | $253.61 | $439.19 | $376.34 |
| 9 | $300.74 | $259.18 | $440.92 | $378.39 |
| 10 | $309.15 | $268.48 | $446.04 | $382.74 |
| 11 | $317.82 | $278.21 | $451.14 | $387.16 |
| 12 | $326.71 | $288.21 | $456.35 | $391.57 |
| 13 | $328.35 | $289.65 | $459.77 | $395.51 |
| 14 | $330.02 | $291.06 | $464.35 | $399.48 |
| 15 | $332.49 | $292.53 | $469.00 | $404.29 |
Hourly rates are what the contract pays per credit hour. Rough annual equivalent: rate × 1,000 credit hours (year-1 First Officer ≈ $117,540; top Captain ≈ $469,000). Profit sharing, per diem and retirement contributions are on top.
Full contract table: all 2 aircraft groups, years 1–15
| 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 | Yr 13 | Yr 14 | Yr 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B777F / MD-11 / B767F / A300 | 117.54 | 266.70 | 267.07 | 272.40 | 277.86 | 283.40 | 289.07 | 294.82 | 300.74 | 309.15 | 317.82 | 326.71 | 328.35 | 330.02 | 332.49 |
| B757 / B737 | 113.39 | 218.58 | 227.47 | 232.43 | 237.56 | 242.82 | 248.14 | 253.61 | 259.18 | 268.48 | 278.21 | 288.21 | 289.65 | 291.06 | 292.53 |
| 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 | Yr 13 | Yr 14 | Yr 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B777F / MD-11 / B767F / A300 | 386.72 | 429.64 | 430.51 | 432.24 | 433.94 | 435.71 | 437.46 | 439.19 | 440.92 | 446.04 | 451.14 | 456.35 | 459.77 | 464.35 | 469.00 |
| B757 / B737 | 327.84 | 364.30 | 366.13 | 368.15 | 370.22 | 372.23 | 374.27 | 376.34 | 378.39 | 382.74 | 387.16 | 391.57 | 395.51 | 399.48 | 404.29 |
Sources and verification
2026 FedEx–ALPA agreement (ratified June 2026, effective 2026-06-29, amendable Dec 2030). Rates in force from June 29, 2026. Checked on .
- FDX MEC TA 2026 full agreement text, Section 3.C.1 'Hourly Rates - Effective First Day of July 2026 Bid Period' (PDF page 26)Primary source · confirms: Full year 1-15 Wide Body and Narrow Body CA/FO rates; transcribed from the PDF text layer and checked against a render of the page
- FDX MEC TA 2026 Section 3 summaryPrimary source · confirms: 39.76% raise at DOS (July 2026 bid period); top of scale WB CA 469.00 / FO 332.49, NB CA 404.29 / FO 292.53; +3% Jan 2028, Jan 2029, Jan 2030; retro payment up to $150,000 CA / $102,500 FO
- FDX MEC TA 2026 summary (all sections)Primary source · confirms: Retirement options (Section 28)
- Air Cargo News, 'FedEx pilots ratify new collective bargaining agreement' (June 2026)Secondary source · confirms: Ratified with 83% yes, 98.5% turnout; effective June 29, 2026; amendable December 2030
Rates effective the first day of the July 2026 bid period; the scale runs to year 15. Further raises of 3% are scheduled for January 2028, 2029 and 2030.
Before FedEx Express 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
- Minimum bid period guarantee
- 68 credit hours per 4-week bid period, 85 per 5-week, 102 per 6-week (Section 4.A.1); FedEx bid periods are not calendar months, so no single monthly figure
- Top of scale (year 15), July 2026
- Wide Body CA $469.00 / FO $332.49; Narrow Body CA $404.29 / FO $292.53
- Scheduled raises
- +3% in the January 2028, January 2029 and January 2030 bid periods (WB CA top $483.07 / $497.56 / $512.48)
- Retro (Amendable Period Recovery Payment)
- Up to an estimated $150,000 for Captains and $102,500 for First Officers, based on active status Nov 2, 2021 to June 28, 2026; pensionable
- New hire pay
- 2.25 credit hours per day (63 CH in a 4-week bid month, 78.75 in a 5-week) until first activation (Section 3.A)
- Retirement
- Pre-DOS pilots choose: legacy DB (cap raised to $340,000) + 9% DC; or market-based cash balance + 9% DC; or 18% DC (19% from Jan 2029). New hires: cash balance plan (9%, 10% from Jan 2029) + 9% DC
How FedEx Express 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 (this page) ContractCapt $469KFO yr 1 $113K
- American Airlines ContractCapt $447KFO yr 1 $116K
What it takes to get hired at FedEx Express
Checked against FedEx Express' official careers pages on August 22, 2026. Full FedEx Express recruitment guide
| Certificates | Commercial Pilot Certificate with multi-engine and instrument ratings, without limitations |
|---|---|
| Total Flight Time | 1,500 hours total fixed-wing as PIC or SIC in multi-engine turboprop or jet aircraft, or a combination |
| PIC Time | Minimum 500 hours PIC; 1,000 hours PIC preferred in jet or multi-engine turboprop of 12,500 lb or above (certain single-engine turboprops count) |
| Medical | First Class medical certificate, or a military flight physical |
From student pilot to FedEx Express 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
FedEx Express First Officer
Airline-specificPay steps up every year of seniority on the contract scale.
Step 8
FedEx Express 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 FedEx Express 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 FedEx Express 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 FedEx pilot make in 2026?
In 2026 a FedEx First Officer earns $113.39 an hour in year 1, rising to $332.49 by year 15 on the top-paying fleet. Captains earn $327.84 to $469 an hour. At 1,000 credit hours a year that is about $113K for a new First Officer and $469K for a senior Captain, before profit sharing and per diem.
How much does a FedEx First Officer make in the first year?
$117.54 an hour in year 1 under 2026 FedEx–ALPA agreement (ratified June 2026, effective 2026-06-29, amendable Dec 2030). At 1,000 credit hours that is about $117,540 a year.
How much does a FedEx Captain make?
FedEx Captains earn $327.84 an hour (year 1, B757 / B737) up to $469 an hour (year 15, B777F / MD-11 / B767F / A300). At 1,000 credit hours a year the top rate is about $469,000 before profit sharing.
Do FedEx widebody pilots earn more than narrowbody pilots?
Yes. In year 12 a B777F / MD-11 / B767F / A300 Captain earns $469 an hour versus $404.29 on the B757 / B737; First Officers earn $332.49 versus $292.53. Which aircraft you can hold depends on seniority.
Is FedEx Express hiring pilots in 2026?
FedEx Express 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 FedEx Express?
Certificates: Commercial Pilot Certificate with multi-engine and instrument ratings, without limitations Total Flight Time: 1,500 hours total fixed-wing as PIC or SIC in multi-engine turboprop or jet aircraft, or a combination PIC Time: Minimum 500 hours PIC; 1,000 hours PIC preferred in jet or multi-engine turboprop of 12,500 lb or above (certain single-engine turboprops count)
Where do these FedEx pay figures come from?
From 2026 FedEx–ALPA agreement (ratified June 2026, effective 2026-06-29, amendable Dec 2030). We read it on October 3, 2026 via: FDX MEC TA 2026 full agreement text, Section 3.C.1 'Hourly Rates - Effective First Day of July 2026 Bid Period' (PDF page 26); FDX MEC TA 2026 Section 3 summary; FDX MEC TA 2026 summary (all sections); Air Cargo News, 'FedEx pilots ratify new collective bargaining agreement' (June 2026).
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