American Airlines Pilot Salary: Careers & Hiring Requirements

American Airlines Requirements
“American Airlines Boeing 777 at Miami International Airport” by User: Venkat Mangudi CC-BY-2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:American_Airlines_Boeing_770-300ER_(N732AN)_at_Miami_International_Airport.jpg

American Airlines, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a major U.S. airline and holds the title as the world’s largest in terms of passengers carried and daily flights.

How much can I earn as an American Airlines pilot?

The average pay for a pilot at American Airlines in 2025 is $352,000 per year. Read on to learn more!

Hiring Requirements & Pay: American Airlines determines wages for both captain and first officer by skills, experience, and the number of flight hours logged. As an applicant, it’s beneficial to compare the entry-level pilot salary with the industry average to grasp the full potential of an American Airlines career.

What is the pilot pay for American Airlines in 2025?

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.

American Airlines First Officer PayAmerican Airlines Captain Pay
Starting: $116/hrStarting: $410/hr
Average: $278/hrAverage: $427/hr
Top: $305/hrTop: $447/hr
Current as of January 2025
America Airlines Pilot Salary in 2025

Watch Our 6-Minute American Airlines Pilot Salary & Hiring Requirements Video!

How are the benefits at American Airlines?

Exploring Benefits Beyond Salary: Many ask, “How much do American pilots earn?” While the salary is highly competitive, American also offers a wealth of other benefits. From flexible schedules to paid time off, the advantages extend well beyond mere compensation.American Airlines offers a competitive compensation package with benefits. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Health, Prescription, Vision, and Dental Insurance
  • 401(k) Retirement Plan
  • Travel Perks
  • Well-Being Plan
  • Education Foundation
  • Family Support
  • Deals & Discounts

How your dream takes flight: Becoming a pilot for American Airlines

American Airlines is a legacy airline based in Fort Worth, Texas. Read more to learn about flying for American:

  • 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.
American Airlines Hub Locations

American Airlines Hiring Requirements Overview

Type of airline: U.S. Passenger

Headquarters: Fort Worth, Texas

Hubs: 

  • Charlotte (CLT)
  • Chicago-O’Hare (ORD)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW)
  • Los Angeles (LAX)
  • Miami (MIA)
  • New York – JFK (JFK)
  • New York – LaGuardia (LGA)
  • Philadelphia (PHL)
  • Phoenix (PHX)
  • Washington D.C. – Ronald Reagan (DCA)
  • Service to 350+ destinations in 60 countries

Origin: The company started in 1930 by merging 80 small airlines.

Values: Integrity, honesty, and the absolute dedication to act responsibly.

Hiring requirements pilot career

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

Contact:

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!

American Airlines in the News

American Airlines is a newsmaker in the aviation industry. If you are interested in flying for American, we encourage you to keep up with current events at the company.

Airlines! If you have an update for your hiring requirements, please submit them to us! Thank you for helping us keep your information current!

Tony Perna Author Image

About the Author

Tony Perna

Tony Perna is an expert in the aviation industry with a long history of achievements around the globe. He became both an FAA-certified commercial pilot and FAA-certified aviation maintenance technician early in his career. Tony holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Maintenance Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (1973) and a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Science & Aviation Safety, also from ERAU (2003).

He has worked in aviation his entire life holding the following positions:

  • Cessna Aircraft Company 1974-1979:
    • Field Service Manager, European Marketing Center, Brussels
    • Cessna Flight Crew Instructor (Former Cessna Training Academy)
    • Supervisor of Cessna Technical Training (Former Cessna Training Academy)
    • Manager Africa and Middle East Aircraft Sales and Support: Single/Multi-Engine aircraft and Citation Business Jet Sales and Support
  • Sr. VP Marketing Cessna Distributor, Central Africa, 1979-1986
  • CEO Cessna Aircraft Co. International Dist. Propeller and Citation, Caribbean Region, 1986-2000
  • Advisor and Ground School Instructor, Epic Flight Academy, 2000-2011
  • Logistics Manager, R2, North Star Aviation, Abu Dhabi, UAE 2011-2014
  • Epic Flight Academy Advisory Board, 2014-Present
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