United Airlines, Inc. operates as a major airline in the United States. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, United actively manages a vast domestic and international route network, spanning the U.S. and all six inhabited continents.
How much can I earn as a United Airlines pilot?
The average pay for a pilot at United Airlines in 2026 is $305,000 per year. Read on to learn more!
Hiring Requirements & Pay: United 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 a United Airlines career.
What is the pilot pay for United Airlines in 2026?
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.
United Airlines First OfficerPay
United Airlines CaptainPay
Starting: $125
Starting: $356
Average: $241
Average: $370
Top: $265
Top: $388
Current as of April 2026
Watch Our 6-Minute United Airlines Pilot Salary & Hiring Requirements Video!
How are the benefits at United Airlines?
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. 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
How your dream takes flight: Becoming a pilot for United Airlines
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 theAviate Program.
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 (ORD)
Denver (DEN)
Guam (GUM)
Houston (IAH)
Los Angeles (LAX)
Newark/New York (EWR)
San Francisco (SFO)
Washington-Dulles (IAD)
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)
A minimum of 100 hours of flight time within the last 12 months is preferred
General Requirements:
Passport – 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 FO 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)
Proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 must be presented to interview and again on the first day of employment.
Punctual and reliable attendance. Availability without any planned absences during the first 12 weeks of employment.
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 any of our campuses, please contact us today!
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.
Dear Epic Flight Academy Team, I am reaching out to learn more about your flight training options for international students. I am currently in the United States on F-1 status and am working legally under my current work authorization. I would like to continue my professional career while pursuing flight training on a part-time basis as a personal and long-term aviation goal. My plan is to complete my Private Pilot License (PPL), Instrument Rating (IR), and eventually Commercial Pilot License (CPL) while making sure my flight hours and training structure also satisfy the applicable Indian DGCA requirements for future conversion. At this time, I do not want to change my current immigration status to M-1, because doing so would affect my ability to continue working. I have spoken with several other flight schools regarding part-time training under my current situation, they said I would be good to fly part as soon as I recieve TSA Pre clearance and I am now reaching out to Epic because I am particularly interested in your international training experience and DGCA-focused program. Ideally, I would like to train part-time, approximately three times per week depending on my work schedule. My overall training timeline can be flexible, and I am comfortable completing the program gradually rather than through an accelerated full-time course. Could you please confirm: Whether Epic can provide part-time flight training while I remain in my current F-1 status without changing to M-1.
Whether I can complete PPL, IR, and CPL with Epic on a flexible/part-time schedule.
Whether the program can be structured so that my flight hours, PIC time, cross-country, instrument, night flying, and other requirements satisfy the applicable DGCA requirements for conversion in India.
Whether your international/DGCA team can assist with the required documentation and logbook requirements throughout the training.
Whether approximately three training sessions per week would be acceptable, and whether evening or weekend scheduling is available.
Whether TSA/FTSP approval would be required for my situation and how Epic assists students with that process. I understand that immigration eligibility is ultimately my responsibility, and I am mainly requesting confirmation of what Epic is able to accommodate from the flight-school and training side. I am very interested in Epic because of your experience with international students, aircraft fleet, training infrastructure, and DGCA pathway. I would appreciate any recommendations you may have for the best way to structure my training based on my situation. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.
My name is Saleh Alghwiri, and I am a retired military pilot with extensive aviation operational experience. I am currently exploring the transition from military aviation to civilian aviation through FAA certification and professional flight training in the United States. My background includes military flight operations, aviation coordination, mission planning, and operational safety experience. I am particularly interested in understanding the most efficient pathway for converting my military flight experience into FAA civilian licenses and ratings. I would appreciate more information regarding: * FAA conversion options for former military pilots
* Credit for previous military flight experience
* Commercial Pilot and Instrument Rating pathways
* Multi-Engine training requirements
* Estimated training duration and total costs
* International student support and visa process I am highly motivated to continue my aviation career internationally and would value the opportunity to discuss how Epic Flight Academy can support this transition. Please let me know the next steps and any documents required for evaluation. Thank you for your time and assistance. Kind regards, Saleh Alghwiri
Phone: +44 795350383
Email: [email protected]
These accommodations have just become available for an Epic Flight Academy student! First name: Minh
Phone number: +19497453622
Number of rooms: 1
City of room(s): Yorktowne Blvd
Private bath: No
Private entrance: Yes
Smoking: No
Parking: Yes
Monthly rate: 950
Utilities included: Yes
Security deposit required: Yes Description: Seeking FEMALE students Roommate or rent all apartments 3900 Yorktowne Blvd, Port Orange, FL 32129-6008, United States Seeking FEMALE students Roommate for Apartment/Room in Port t Orange Hello, I’m a student at Fight Academy . I’m looking for roommates to share an apartment or a room in Port Orange, ready to move in of December. 🏡 near I95, Target, Walmart , Home Depot …. I’m a quiet and clean person who’s fully focused on my studies. If anyone is interested or has a room available, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank for take time!
My name is Adnan Karim, a UK national (DOB: 19/06/1991). I am interested in your Zero to Commercial Pilot Training Program starting from zero experience up to Commercial Pilot Licence with Instrument Rating and Multi-Engine. Could you please provide me with: Full program details for international students
Total cost of training (all phases included)
Duration of the full program
Start dates for 2025/2026
Visa requirements for UK citizens
Payment schedule (deposit + instalments)
Accommodation options
Any additional or hidden fees Thank you very much. Kind regards, Adnan Karim Email: [email protected] WhatsApp: +44 7931 227236 United Kingdom
1. After completing my training at Epic Flight Academy, how will I be able to apply my FAA license in Bangladesh?
2. What is the standard career pathway for Bangladeshi students after completing flight training in the U.S.?
3. How can my training in the U.S. help meet the growing demand for pilots in Bangladesh?
4. Are there any examples of Bangladeshi students who trained at Epic and are now working as professional pilots?
5. What makes training in the United States more advanced compared to training in Bangladesh or nearby countries?
6. How does Epic Flight Academy ensure that international students complete their training on time and return home as qualified pilots?
I'm in Ghana but ready to relocate to the United States to partake in the training because I have a dream of beconing a pilot but not enough funds
Please how can I do the visa procedures and also is there anywhere i can get a scholarship
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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
Tony Perna's experience as a pilot provided a strong foundation for a lifelong career in aviation.
Tony's expertise includes work as an FAA-certified aircraft mechanic, which he shares regularly with Epic Flight Academy students.
