United Airlines Pilot Careers & Salary: A Comprehensive Guide

• Understanding United Airlines Careers: United, a premier carrier based in Chicago, IL, offers pilot careers with industry-leading benefits. When considering a position with United Airlines, understanding the hiring criteria, salary scales, and additional perks is key. Best of all, United Airlines is a partner airline with Epic. You can go from training at Epic to United through the Aviate Program.
  
• Hiring Requirements & Pay: Both the captain and first officer positions at United have wages determined 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 a United Airlines career.
  
• Benefits Beyond Salary: Many ask, “How much do United pilots earn?” While the salary is highly competitive, United also offers a wealth of other benefits. From flexible schedules to paid time off, the advantages extend well beyond mere compensation.
  
• Preparing for Your Application: Beyond just salary inquiries, researching all facets of the job, from requirements to additional perks, is crucial. Consider attending United Airlines job fairs or career expos for deeper insights. Before your interview, a review of the United Airlines company website can provide valuable context.

United Airlines Hiring Requirements Overview

Type of airline: U.S. Passenger

Headquarters: Chicago, Illinois

Hubs: 

• Chicago-O’Hare
• Denver
• Guam
• Houston
• Los Angeles
• Newark
• San Francisco
• Tokyo-Narita
• Washington-Dulles
• Service to 342 destinations

Fleet: Currently, United Airlines has 854 aircraft, which includes the Boeing 737 MAX 10, B737 MAX 8, and Airbus A321

Origin: The company started in 1926 as Varney Air Lines.

Values: Safe, caring, dependable, and efficient (core4 service behaviors)

What are the hiring requirements for United Airlines careers?

First Officer Job Requirements:

United Airlines is looking for talented pilots who:

• Reflect the company’s leadership qualities – These include your ability to model character, think creatively, get results, and model teamwork.
• Share United’s commitment to core values
• Demonstrate a passion for aviation and an ongoing commitment to excellence and achievement

Certification Requirements:

• Unrestricted FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) (with airplane multiengine rating)
• Current FAA first-class medical certificate
• FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit (RR)

Flight Time Requirements:

• 1,500 hours total time (minimum)
• 1,000 hours total time (minimum)
• A minimum of 100 hours of flight time within the last 12 months is preferred

General Requirements:

• Passport – must be current with a minimum of 6 months remaining at time of hire
• Legally able to work in the U.S. without sponsorship
• Able to travel freely with the U.S. and without restrictions to all countries where United flies
• High school graduate or GED
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school (preferred, not required for First Officer position). Note: All foreign transcripts need to be evaluated for equivalency to U.S. degrees by a member organization of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and overall authenticity
• International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever (Yellow Card) (present to United Airlines within first 10 days of employment). Note: If you are unable to be vaccinated against either COVID-19 or Yellow Fever due to a medical restriction or sincere religious belief, you will need to participate in United’s Reasonable Accommodation Process (RAP). United is unable to consider you for employment until this process is complete.
• Proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 must be presented to interview and again on the first day of employment. (Note: The CDC considers people to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after their second dose of a two-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.)
• Punctual and reliable attendance. Additionally, United requires availability without any planned absences during the first 12 weeks of employment.

So, exactly how much can I earn as a United Airlines pilot?

Here is a sampling of United pilot hourly wages. Pilot pay changes based on various factors, such as type of plane, years of experience, etc. For instance, this is for the Airbus 320.

How are the benefits at United Airlines?

United Airlines offers a competitive compensation package with benefits. These include, but are not limited to:

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Accident insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee assistance
• Paid holidays
• Defined contribution plan
• Travel privileges

Homepage: United Airlines

Contact Information
Email: [email protected]
United 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 United Airlines and are interested in receiving your training at our flight school in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, please contact us today!

United Airlines in the News

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

• November 23, 2023 – Airlinerwatch: United Airlines to Offer Historic Nonstop Flights in Asia-Pacific Region 

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