United Airlines Pilot Salaries in 2024: Contracts, Boeing Delays, and Hiring Trends
United Airlines, long a symbol of glamorous air travel, now faces complex challenges in 2024 that affect its pilots, from significant contractual changes to unexpected delays in aircraft deliveries due to Boeing’s recent troubles.
In 2024, United Airlines pilots received a historic pay raise under a new $10 billion contract, marking the largest such increase in U.S. history. This contract, negotiated by the Airline Pilots Association, International (ALPA), provided a 34.5% to 40.2% salary increase over four years, along with enhanced benefits like sick leave, vacation, and 401(k) contributions. These raises came as a response to the industry-wide pilot shortage exacerbated by the pandemic, which left 10,000 pilot seats vacant and shifted bargaining power to unions.
Despite these gains, United’s pilots face uncertainty due to Boeing’s production issues. The aerospace giant, which constitutes 81% of United’s fleet, has experienced significant delays following increased FAA oversight after a fuselage incident and a guilty plea to defrauding the FAA over the 737 Max crashes. As a result, United, which placed a historic order for 200 Boeing aircraft totaling $43 billion in 2022, has had to adjust its 2024 delivery expectations dramatically. Originally slated to receive 157 Max series planes, United now expects only 54, with none of the larger Max 10s likely to be delivered this year.
These delays have direct repercussions for pilot employment. In early 2024, United paused new pilot training and even asked some current pilots to take voluntary unpaid leave, affecting their job security and income. This hiring freeze and the request for voluntary leave reflect the operational challenges posed by the lack of new aircraft, crucial for route expansions and fleet modernization.
As for the pilots’ salaries, data from Thrust Flight Academy highlights that in 2024, United Airlines pays its first officers starting from $111,408, escalating to over $231,158 with a decade of experience. Captains earn significantly more, with salaries starting at $316,387 and reaching up to $339,465 after ten years. The pay can even surpass $438 per hour for senior captains on guaranteed shifts.
United Airlines, headquartered in Chicago, has continued to expand its base operations across major U.S. cities and aims to foster diversity within its crew. Through its Aviate Academy, United plans to train 5,000 new pilots by 2030, with a focus on increasing female and minority representation in the cockpit.
This intricate situation at United Airlines underscores the complexities of modern air travel employment, where industry shifts, technological setbacks, and economic changes directly impact the livelihoods of thousands of pilots. As United navigates these turbulent skies, the outcome will likely influence the entire aviation sector’s approach to pilot recruitment, training, and compensation in the years to come.