UPS Airlines vs FedEx Express
A side-by-side comparison of pilot careers at UPS Airlines (5X) and FedEx Express (FX) — covering salary, fleet, requirements, and more.
Airline selection starts with an aptitude battery
It screens you before a human reads your application. Sit a timed practice paper free — scored on pace, which is what actually culls candidates.
Which one fits you
Read from the numbers above rather than from opinion. Where the published data does not settle a question, it is left open instead of guessed.
FedEx Express pays higher at both ends
Top of band: $220,000 as an FO and $400,000 as a captain. Bands are wide because seniority, fleet and country tax all move them — treat this as direction, not a payslip.
Whichever you pick, the gate is the same shape
Both run an aptitude battery before a human reads your CV, then a competency interview scored against the ICAO pilot competencies. We do not have a pack for either yet — the aptitude practice below applies to both.
Knowing what UPS 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 UPS 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.
Head-to-Head Comparison
Requirements Comparison
UPS Airlines
- ATP certificate
- Turbine PIC experience
- FAA Class 1 medical
- Clean record
FedEx Express
- ATP certificate
- 1,500+ hours total time
- 500+ hours turbine PIC
- FAA Class 1 medical
- Excellent safety record
Pros & Cons
UPS Airlines
Pros
- +Industry-leading captain pay
- +Daytime flexibility with cargo schedule
- +Diverse fleet with many type rating opportunities
- +Large domestic route network
Cons
- –Primarily night flying operations
- –Longer wait for specific type ratings due to fleet size
FedEx Express
Pros
- +Industry-leading captain pay
- +Daytime flexibility with cargo schedule
- +Large domestic route network
Cons
- –Primarily night flying operations
About Each Airline
UPS Airlines
UPS Airlines offers top-tier pilot compensation with cargo operations. Night flying schedule allows for daytime flexibility.
Full UPS Airlines career guide →FedEx Express
FedEx Express is one of the highest-paying airlines in the world. Cargo operations mean primarily night flying but excellent compensation and schedules.
Full FedEx Express career guide →Calculate Your Salary
Model your earning potential at UPS Airlines or FedEx Express based on your experience, ratings, and career stage.
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