Pay verified October 3, 2026United StatesHiring

United Airlines Pilot Salary 2026

First Officer and Captain pay from the 2023 United–ALPA contract (UPA 2023), January 2026 bid period rates. 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 United pilot make in 2026?

In 2026 a United First Officer earns $125.52 an hour in year 1 on every fleet, rising to $330.44 by year 12 on the top-paying fleet. Captains earn $356.46 to $483.74 an hour. At 1,000 credit hours a year that is about $126K for a new First Officer and $484K for a senior Captain, before profit sharing and per diem.

First Officer, year 1
$125.52/hr
First Officer, top
$330.44/hr
Captain, year 1
$356.46/hr
Captain, top
$483.74/hr

United Airlines pilot pay scale 2026

United Airlines pilot pay by year of service — B777 / B787 / B767-400Yr 1: First Officer $125.52, Captain $443.85; Yr 2: First Officer $239.41, Captain $447.45; Yr 3: First Officer $280.15, Captain $451.12; Yr 4: First Officer $286.94, Captain $454.76; Yr 5: First Officer $293.79, Captain $458.40; Yr 6: First Officer $301.24, Captain $462.00; Yr 7: First Officer $309.61, Captain $465.64; Yr 8: First Officer $316.72, Captain $469.22; Yr 9: First Officer $320.17, Captain $472.87; Yr 10: First Officer $324.52, Captain $476.47; Yr 11: First Officer $327.42, Captain $480.09; Yr 12: First Officer $330.44, Captain $483.74CaptainFirst OfficerUSD per hour$443.85$483.74$125.52$330.44123456789101112Year of service
From the pilot contractB777 / B787 / B767-400Every figure in a table
United Airlines pilot pay per hour (USD) by year of service, rates in force from 2026-01-01. Source: the 2023 United–ALPA contract (UPA 2023), January 2026 bid period rates.
YrFOB777 +2FOB737-700 +4CaptB777 +2CaptB737-700 +4
1$125.52$125.52$443.85$356.46
2$239.41$192.22$447.45$359.23
3$280.15$224.85$451.12$362.07
4$286.94$230.32$454.76$365.00
5$293.79$235.86$458.40$367.95
6$301.24$241.75$462.00$370.84
7$309.61$248.51$465.64$373.73
8$316.72$254.25$469.22$376.65
9$320.17$256.97$472.87$379.59
10$324.52$260.44$476.47$382.47
11$327.42$262.83$480.09$385.40
12$330.44$265.19$483.74$388.27

Hourly rates are what the contract pays per credit hour. Rough annual equivalent: rate × 1,000 credit hours (year-1 First Officer ≈ $125,520; top Captain ≈ $483,740). The contract guarantees at least 70 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
B777 / B787 / B767-400125.52239.41280.15286.94293.79301.24309.61316.72320.17324.52327.42330.44
B757-200 / B757-300 / B767-300 / A321neo / A321XLR125.52198.62232.42238.10243.92250.02256.92262.94265.60270.01273.34276.56
B737-900 / B737 MAX 9 / B737 MAX 10125.52193.02225.86231.32236.88242.91249.70255.47258.21261.73264.13266.58
B737-700 / B737-800 / B737 MAX 8 / A319 / A320125.52192.22224.85230.32235.86241.75248.51254.25256.97260.44262.83265.19
Captain — USD per hour
AircraftYr 1Yr 2Yr 3Yr 4Yr 5Yr 6Yr 7Yr 8Yr 9Yr 10Yr 11Yr 12
B777 / B787 / B767-400443.85447.45451.12454.76458.40462.00465.64469.22472.87476.47480.09483.74
B757-200 / B757-300 / B767-300 / A321neo / A321XLR368.14371.26374.27377.31380.51383.48386.33389.52392.29396.50400.77404.92
B737-900 / B737 MAX 9 / B737 MAX 10358.02360.83363.66366.61369.59372.56375.48378.42381.43384.27387.28390.30
B737-700 / B737-800 / B737 MAX 8 / A319 / A320356.46359.23362.07365.00367.95370.84373.73376.65379.59382.47385.40388.27

Sources and verification

2023 United–ALPA contract (UPA 2023), January 2026 bid period rates. Rates in force from January 1, 2026. Checked on .

The contract also lists rates for aircraft United does not fly today (A380, E-jets, CRJ900); they are left out. United's and Delta's 2026 scales are identical to the cent on the shared fleets.

Before United Airlines pays you any of this, you sit their aptitude battery.

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On top of the hourly rate

Company 401(k) contribution
18% direct employer contribution from the January 2026 bid period (17% in 2024-2025)
Profit sharing formula
10% of pre-tax profit up to $2.5B plus 20% of pre-tax profit above $2.5B (applies to 2023 and later profits); payout amount for 2025 not verified here
Per diem
$2.90/hr domestic and $3.45/hr other from 1 Jan 2024, +2.5% each 1 January (rounded to the cent) - by that formula about $3.04 / $3.63 in 2026 (computed, not published)
Lineholder minimum
From the May 2024 bid period a lineholder awarded less than 70 credit hours is raised to 70
Next scheduled raise
January 2027 bid period: e.g. widebody CA yr12 $498.25, regular narrowbody FO yr1 $129.29
Contract amendable
2027-09-30

How United 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.

What it takes to get hired at United Airlines

Checked against United Airlines' official careers pages on October 3, 2026. Full United Airlines recruitment guide

First Officer — certificateUnrestricted FAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate with airplane multiengine rating. A Restricted ATP (R-ATP) does not meet the mainline gate.
Total timeMinimum 1,500 hours total time; 1,000 hours fixed-wing turbine preferred; 100 hours in the last 12 months preferred
MedicalCurrent FAA First Class medical certificate
Radio permitFCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit
Authorisation and travelLegal right to work in the US without sponsorship; able to travel without restriction to every country United serves; passport valid at least six months at employment

From student pilot to United Airlines 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

    United Airlines First Officer

    Airline-specific

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

  8. Step 8

    United Airlines 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 United 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. And when you reach the interview, there are 100 United Airlines-specific questions with model answers, the red flags that fail each one, and the follow-ups the panel actually asks.

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.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a United pilot make in 2026?

In 2026 a United First Officer earns $125.52 an hour in year 1 on every fleet, rising to $330.44 by year 12 on the top-paying fleet. Captains earn $356.46 to $483.74 an hour. At 1,000 credit hours a year that is about $126K for a new First Officer and $484K for a senior Captain, before profit sharing and per diem.

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

$125.52 an hour in year 1 under 2023 United–ALPA contract (UPA 2023), January 2026 bid period rates, the same on every fleet. At 1,000 credit hours that is about $125,520 a year; the contract guarantees at least 70 hours a month ($105,437 a year at the minimum).

How much does a United Captain make?

United Captains earn $356.46 an hour (year 1, B737-700 / B737-800 / B737 MAX 8 / A319 / A320) up to $483.74 an hour (year 12, B777 / B787 / B767-400). At 1,000 credit hours a year the top rate is about $483,740 before profit sharing.

Do United widebody pilots earn more than narrowbody pilots?

Yes. In year 12 a B777 / B787 / B767-400 Captain earns $483.74 an hour versus $388.27 on the B737-700 / B737-800 / B737 MAX 8 / A319 / A320; First Officers earn $330.44 versus $265.19. Which aircraft you can hold depends on seniority.

Is United Airlines hiring pilots in 2026?

United 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 United Airlines?

First Officer — certificate: Unrestricted FAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate with airplane multiengine rating. A Restricted ATP (R-ATP) does not meet the mainline gate. Total time: Minimum 1,500 hours total time; 1,000 hours fixed-wing turbine preferred; 100 hours in the last 12 months preferred Medical: Current FAA First Class medical certificate

Does United pay profit sharing to pilots?

Profit sharing formula: 10% of pre-tax profit up to $2.5B plus 20% of pre-tax profit above $2.5B (applies to 2023 and later profits); payout amount for 2025 not verified here. Profit sharing is paid on top of the hourly rates above.

Where do these United pay figures come from?

From 2023 United–ALPA contract (UPA 2023), January 2026 bid period rates. We read it on October 3, 2026 via: United–ALPA 2023 contract (UPA 2023), 'Pay Rates January 2026 Bid Period'; United Airlines careers: First Officer; Airline Pilot Central — United Airlines.

United Airlines pilot pay 2026: First Officer and Captain hourly rates by year of service, from the 2023 United–ALPA contract (UPA 2023), January 2026 bid period rates
United Airlines pilot pay 2026: First Officer and Captain hourly rates by year of service, from the 2023 United–ALPA contract (UPA 2023), January 2026 bid period rates. Free to share with a link to this page.

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