How Much Do US Major Airline Captains Make In 2026?

The job of an airline pilot is one of the most alluring in the aviation industry, and the United States is widely regarded as the best country in the world to work as an airline pilot. This is due to a combination of relatively strong financial performance by the nation’s largest airlines, favorable working conditions enabled by strong unions, and some of the best pay rates in the world. While many scheduled carriers in the United States are desirable places to work, it’s the major airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines that offer the best pay and working conditions.