Seattle, Feb 19, 2026, 02:34 PST
- Online pay data shows Alaska captains topping out at $361.29 an hour per flight hour.
- First officers kick off at almost $120 an hour, following the same pay scale.
- Investors are eyeing the risk that higher wages could pinch margins, especially with travel demand looking weaker this season.
Alaska Airlines pilots are showing up near the top of the U.S. pay charts, according to a WhatJobs report that references contract pay tables. The breakdown making the rounds online lists senior captains at $361.29 per hour, and for some with extra earnings, annual take-home can cross $400,000. (Whatjobs)
These numbers arrive while airlines are still shelling out more for crews—hiring headaches haven’t let up. Investors, for their part, want evidence that management can actually keep a grip on spending. In filings, Alaska Air Group flags labor costs as a major expense category, noting a steep climb thanks to wage inflation. (Stock Titan)
Those pay figures, including the “$400,000-plus” mark for senior captains, have bounced around social media, with Sky News Australia joining in by sharing the number and the scale in a post. (Facebook)
According to Aviation A2Z, a trade publication referenced in the reporting, starting first officers—those second-in-command to captains—earn about $119.92 an hour. That’s based on a 75-hour flight credit per month, which means base pay lands near $107,900 a year. Senior first officers, it noted, see rates closer to $171 an hour. The site added that total compensation can climb higher with layover pay, premium flight assignments, profit sharing, and so-called “loss of licence” insurance in case a pilot is medically disqualified. (Aviation A2Z)
Alaska isn’t the only one in this boat. Bigger players—American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines—have all boosted pay and benefits lately to hang onto crews, with unions throughout the industry pressing aggressively for higher wages.
Alaska Air Group was recently changing hands at $55.84, off roughly 2.2% from its previous close.
The airline’s calculus is pretty clear: higher retention, smoother schedules, and a drop in cancellations. But the costs are just as plain. Investors are watching for fare hikes, more packed flights, or efficiency improvements to balance out the bigger wage bill.
Headline rates aren’t the whole picture. Pilots don’t always clock the standard monthly hours, and the add-ons—things like premium flights, training assignments, profit sharing—shift depending on demand, headcount, and how the company’s doing. If airlines pull back on flights during a slump, that same pay chart can end up meaning a lot less.
This week, Yahoo Finance picked up the pay breakdown too, repeating the hourly figures and the 75 hours per month baseline. (Yahoo)
