Artur Ślesik

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. 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.