Could I earn less as a captain than a first officer?

Yes although rare there are noteworthy scenarios in which a Captain might earn less than a First Officer depending on circumstances but generally captains are paid more due to their experience authority and responsibility.

Typical Pay Structure

Captains typically command a higher salary because they shoulder full responsibility for the aircraft crew and passengers. For example:

In the U.S. captains often earn $150,000–$350,000+ annually while first officers typically earn $60,000–$100,000 depending on airline size and experience.
Regional airlines: First year captains may earn $90,000–$150,000 with first officers in the $40,000–$90,000 range.

The pay gap can be dramatic major airlines offer first officers up to $180,000 while captains may reach $400,000+.

When Could a Captain Earn Less Than a First Officer?

Demotion or transfer between airlines: If a captain with seniority moves from a regional airline to a major airline but is hired as a low seniority first officer their pay might decrease. As seen in a pilot forum:

as a PSA captain you would expect to make $165/hr. However a first year FO at American makes $90/hr. Hence they revert back in pay scale when changing employers.
Inactive or training captains: Some captains working in training reserve or administrative capacities may temporarily earn less than active flying first officers though quantitative data is limited.
First officer with significant overtime or premium pay: In some cases a first officer flying more hours or doing premium holiday or international routes might out earn a local-based captain, especially if the captain’s schedule is lighter or base only.

In nearly all standard cases a captain s salary surpasses that of a first officer reflecting greater seniority and responsibility.
Exceptions exist, particularly when switching airlines or roles a captain might earn less than a first officer, especially one with more flying hours or premium assignments.
This means only under unusual career transitions or contract circumstances would these rare inversions occur, not as the norm.

Could I earn less as a captain than a first officer?

Typical Pay Structure

When Could a Captain Earn Less Than a First Officer?

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