Pay checked October 3, 2026 · read the caveatsUnited StatesHiring paused

JetBlue Airways Pilot Salary 2026

First Officer and Captain pay from the 2018 JetBlue–ALPA contract as extended in 2023. 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 JetBlue pilot make in 2026?

In 2026 a JetBlue First Officer earns $112.32 an hour in year 1 on every fleet, rising to $248.45 by year 12 on the top-paying fleet. Captains earn $260.87 to $359.40 an hour. At 1,000 credit hours a year that is about $112K for a new First Officer and $359K for a senior Captain, before profit sharing and per diem.

First Officer, year 1
$112.32/hr
First Officer, top
$248.45/hr
Captain, year 1
$260.87/hr
Captain, top
$359.40/hr

JetBlue Airways pilot pay scale 2026

JetBlue Airways pilot pay by year of service — A320 / A321Yr 1: First Officer $112.32, Captain $326.09; Yr 2: First Officer $174.47, Captain $329.05; Yr 3: First Officer $202.04, Captain $332.02; Yr 4: First Officer $210.32, Captain $335.06; Yr 5: First Officer $218.76, Captain $338.07; Yr 6: First Officer $225.28, Captain $341.16; Yr 7: First Officer $231.52, Captain $344.19; Yr 8: First Officer $237.08, Captain $347.19; Yr 9: First Officer $239.69, Captain $350.27; Yr 10: First Officer $243.69, Captain $353.26; Yr 11: First Officer $246.06, Captain $356.36; Yr 12: First Officer $248.45, Captain $359.40CaptainFirst OfficerUSD per hour$326.09$359.40$112.32$248.45123456789101112Year of service
From published pay sourcesA320 / A321Every figure in a table
JetBlue Airways pilot pay per hour (USD) by year of service. Source: the 2018 JetBlue–ALPA contract as extended in 2023.
YrFOA320 +1CaptA320 +1
1$112.32$326.09
2$174.47$329.05
3$202.04$332.02
4$210.32$335.06
5$218.76$338.07
6$225.28$341.16
7$231.52$344.19
8$237.08$347.19
9$239.69$350.27
10$243.69$353.26
11$246.06$356.36
12$248.45$359.40

Hourly rates are what the contract pays per credit hour. Rough annual equivalent: rate × 1,000 credit hours (year-1 First Officer ≈ $112,320; top Captain ≈ $359,400). Profit sharing, per diem and retirement contributions are on top.

Full contract table: all 2 aircraft groups, years 1–12
First Officer — USD per hour
AircraftYr 1Yr 2Yr 3Yr 4Yr 5Yr 6Yr 7Yr 8Yr 9Yr 10Yr 11Yr 12
A320 / A321112.32174.47202.04210.32218.76225.28231.52237.08239.69243.69246.06248.45
E190112.32139.57161.64168.26175.00180.21185.21189.66191.76194.93196.85198.76
Captain — USD per hour
AircraftYr 1Yr 2Yr 3Yr 4Yr 5Yr 6Yr 7Yr 8Yr 9Yr 10Yr 11Yr 12
A320 / A321326.09329.05332.02335.06338.07341.16344.19347.19350.27353.26356.36359.40
E190260.87263.22265.61268.05270.43272.91275.33277.75280.21282.60285.07287.51

Sources and verification

Caveat: we could not read JetBlue Airways' 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.

2018 JetBlue–ALPA contract as extended in 2023. Checked on .

2018 JetBlue-ALPA CBA as extended in Jan 2023 (amendable Feb 2025; Section 6 talks open since Apr 2024, no new deal found). Latest scale in the 2018 JetBlue–ALPA agreement as extended in 2023; the contract has been amendable since February 2025 and a new deal would replace these rates. The A220-300 row is omitted because one cell in the only published transcription is clearly a typo.

Before JetBlue Airways 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

Retirement
17% direct company 401(k) contribution as of 2024 (no match); company-funded retiree health VEBA at $1.00 per credit hour
Profit sharing
If JetBlue's profit margin is 18% or less, pilots get 10% (5% retirement plus 401k contribution and differences paid via profit sharing); above 18%, 20% of the amount over 18% (APC wording)
Night pay override
$13/hr for flying between 0100-0500 base local time

How JetBlue Airways 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.

  • Alaska Airlines Contract
    Capt $391K
    FO yr 1 $130K
  • UPS Airlines Contract
    Capt $390K
    FO yr 1 $60K
  • JetBlue Airways (this page) Contract
    Capt $359K
    FO yr 1 $112K
  • Atlas Air Contract
    Capt $333K
    FO yr 1 $100K

What it takes to get hired at JetBlue Airways

Checked against JetBlue Airways' official careers pages on October 3, 2026. Full JetBlue Airways recruitment guide

Hiring todayNo direct-entry First Officer requisition open on 3 Oct 2026; minimums for direct entry are published with each requisition
Certificate (to fly the line)An ATP certificate without restriction and 1,500 hours total flight time before the first day as a JetBlue pilot, per JetBlue Gateways
Gateway Select eligibilityLittle or no flying experience: anyone who has gone beyond a Private Pilot certificate is not eligible
BasesBOS, FLL, JFK, LAX and MCO per JetBlue's First Officer page

From student pilot to JetBlue Airways 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

    JetBlue Airways First Officer

    Airline-specific

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

  8. Step 8

    JetBlue Airways 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 JetBlue Airways 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 JetBlue Airways 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 JetBlue pilot make in 2026?

In 2026 a JetBlue First Officer earns $112.32 an hour in year 1 on every fleet, rising to $248.45 by year 12 on the top-paying fleet. Captains earn $260.87 to $359.40 an hour. At 1,000 credit hours a year that is about $112K for a new First Officer and $359K for a senior Captain, before profit sharing and per diem.

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

$112.32 an hour in year 1 under 2018 JetBlue–ALPA contract as extended in 2023, the same on every fleet. At 1,000 credit hours that is about $112,320 a year.

How much does a JetBlue Captain make?

JetBlue Captains earn $260.87 an hour (year 1, E190) up to $359.40 an hour (year 12, A320 / A321). At 1,000 credit hours a year the top rate is about $359,400 before profit sharing.

Is JetBlue Airways hiring pilots in 2026?

JetBlue Airways has paused pilot hiring, 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 JetBlue Airways?

Hiring today: No direct-entry First Officer requisition open on 3 Oct 2026; minimums for direct entry are published with each requisition Certificate (to fly the line): An ATP certificate without restriction and 1,500 hours total flight time before the first day as a JetBlue pilot, per JetBlue Gateways Gateway Select eligibility: Little or no flying experience: anyone who has gone beyond a Private Pilot certificate is not eligible

Does JetBlue pay profit sharing to pilots?

Profit sharing: If JetBlue's profit margin is 18% or less, pilots get 10% (5% retirement plus 401k contribution and differences paid via profit sharing); above 18%, 20% of the amount over 18% (APC wording). Profit sharing is paid on top of the hourly rates above.

Where do these JetBlue pay figures come from?

From 2018 JetBlue–ALPA contract as extended in 2023. We read it on October 3, 2026 via: AirlinePilotCentral - JetBlue Airways (HTML pay table, E190 / A220-300 / A320, years 1-12); ALPA Economic & Financial Analysis contract comparison, v1.2 (2023-09-11); Simple Flying - JetBlue pilots 21.5% raise (Jan 2023 extension).

JetBlue Airways pilot pay 2026: First Officer and Captain hourly rates by year of service, from the 2018 JetBlue–ALPA contract as extended in 2023
JetBlue Airways pilot pay 2026: First Officer and Captain hourly rates by year of service, from the 2018 JetBlue–ALPA contract as extended in 2023. Free to share with a link to this page.

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