Alaska Airlines pilots are flying high in more ways than one.
A recent agreement has significantly boosted pilot salaries at Alaska Airlines, positioning them among the top earners in the industry.
Starting pay for first officers, or co-pilots, is now around $119.92 per hour. This translates to about $107,900 annually, assuming around 75 flight hours per month.
The longer co-pilots remain with the airline, headquartered in Seattle, the more their earnings grow.
More experienced officers who operate larger aircraft can make approximately $171 an hour, equating to around $153,000 per year before any benefits or bonuses are factored in.
Meanwhile, Alaska Airlines captains are enjoying an unprecedented wage of $361.29 per hour, following the latest negotiations. If they fly about 75 hours monthly, that adds up to a base salary of $324,000 per year.
However, this figure can swell to around $350,000 when including extras like transit allowances, premium segments, added responsibilities as instructors or examiners, and profit-sharing. The most seasoned captains can even surpass $400,000 annually.
But the perks don’t stop at the salary. Alaska Airlines pilots can also take advantage of personal travel privileges, protection against loss of license—which is essentially financial security if they’re unable to fly for medical reasons—and additional earning prospects, among other benefits.
Yet, Alaska isn’t the only airline focused on supporting and preparing its pilots.
In late December 2025, a captain from American Airlines shared a remarkable salary on Reddit, revealing an impressive $458,000 for his role as a Boeing 737 captain.
Many users on the platform argued that pilots deserve such high earnings.
“I have no problem with the person in charge of the machine holding me 35,000 feet in the air being paid a high salary,” one traveler expressed.
Another added humorously, “Kids, go get your pilot’s license.”
