Pilot compensation in the United States varies widely depending on the type of flying ( airline, cargo, corporate) the airline the aircraft years of experience and additional pay factors like per diem or bonuses.
Senior captains at major airlines ( Delta, United, American) can earn approximately $400,000 annually often even more when additional pay per diem and bonuses are included
Captains at low cost carriers such as Allegiant Frontier and Spirit can earn up to $270,000 in base pay alone with opportunities for significantly higher total earnings when factoring in per diem holiday premiums and overtime flight hours.
Cargo pilots for carriers like FedEx and UPS typically earn between $150,000 and $250,000 with senior captains reaching up to $326,000 per year.
Corporate pilots especially those flying high end business jets such as the Gulfstream G650 or Global 6000 can earn between $245,000 and $265,000 annually. Notably one recent job advertisement revealed that Starbucks offered a corporate jet captain a salary between $207,000 and $360,300 highlighting the potential for high-end pay in executive aviation roles.
Glassdoor data indicates that some top tier airline pilots have reported total pay reaching $2 million per year though such figures are rare and likely reflect highly experienced individuals working extensive flight schedules or in specialized roles. On the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics scale the top 10% of airline pilots earn more than $239,200.