American Airlines Pilot Careers & Salary: A Comprehensive Guide

- Navigating Job Opportunities at American Airlines: If you’re considering applying for job openings at American Airlines, you should familiarize yourself with the airline’s hiring requirements and compensation structure. This knowledge will enable you to make informed decisions and maximize your career potential within the aviation industry.
- Understanding the Impact of Skills and Experience: Experience, skills, and flight hours play an important role in determining the wages for both captain and first officer positions at American Airlines. It is recommended to conduct a comprehensive analysis, comparing entry-level pilot salaries to the industry average. This comparison will provide valuable insights into the potential opportunities and rewards associated with pursuing a career at American Airlines.
- Exploring Beyond Salary: While the question of “How much do pilots earn?” is undoubtedly important, American Airlines careers offer benefits that extend beyond monetary compensation. Prospective applicants should delve into various aspects to gain a better understanding of the job’s appeal ranging from hiring requirements to income as well as exploring the perks that come with being part of the American Airlines team. Conducting thorough research will enable you to make a well-informed decision about pursuing a career with the airline.
American Airlines Hiring Requirements Overview
Type of airline: U.S. Passenger
Headquarters: Fort Worth, Texas
Hubs:
- Charlotte
- Chicago-O’Hare
- Dallas/Fort Worth
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- New York-JFK
- New York -LaGuardia
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Washington D.C.-Ronald Reagan
- Service to 350 destinations
Origin: The company started in 1930 by merging 80 small airlines.
Values: Integrity, honesty, and the absolute dedication to act responsibly.

What are the hiring requirements for American Airlines careers?
General Requirements:
- Excellent communication skills and quick and accurate decision-making skills
- Close attention to detail
- Minimum age of 23
- Ability to work varying hours of the day or night, on weekends and holidays
- Must be able to secure appropriate airport authority and/or Customs security badges
- Completed FAA criminal background checks
- Ability to learn and work with PEDs
- Distance vision corrected to 20/20 and near vision corrected to 20/40 or better in each eye
- Current Unrestricted Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rating (multi-engine)
- Valid FCC Restricted Radio Telephone Operator permit
- Valid First Class Medical Certificate
- Flight time in accordance with all FAA requirements
- Be able to fluently speak and understand English
- Must have the right to work in the United States
- Must have a valid passport and documentation allowing for entry into the United States after an international flight

So, exactly how much can I earn as an American Airlines pilot?
Here is a sampling of American Airlines pilot hourly wages. Pilot pay changes based on various factors, such as type of plane, years of experience, etc. For example, these salaries are based on flying the Boeing 777 or 787.
First Officer | Captain |
Starting: $90/hr | Starting: $314/hr |
Average: $213/hr | Average: $327/hr |
Top: $234/hr | Top: $342/hr |
Homepage: American Airlines
Contact Information
Phone: 1-817-963-1234
Apply for a job: Talent Runway
American Careers: Overview
We have tried to provide the most accurate information here regarding hiring requirements for commercial airlines, we encourage you to contact the airline you’re interested in working for directly to verify employment requirements. Learn how much you can earn as a pilot, and learn exactly how to become a pilot. We wish you great success as an airline pilot and hope you land your dream job! Before you fill out that job application, you will need flight training. If you are interested in pursuing a flying career with American Airlines and are interested in receiving your training at our flight school in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, please contact us today!
Airlines! If you have an update for your hiring requirements, please submit them to us! Thank you for helping us keep your information current!