Alaska Airlines — the largest carrier on the U.S. West Coast · oneworld member.
An Alaska Airlines captain earns an average of $308K per year, typically $239K–$365K. First officers average $179K ($107K–$226K). Figures are gross annual pay, before tax. Figures are as of March 2026.
Alaska Airlines is a major carrier based on the U.S. West Coast and in the state of Alaska, serving destinations across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and Hawaii. It is a member of oneworld. The airline operates Horizon Air as a subsidiary and expanded through its 2016 acquisition of Virgin America. It is in the process of transitioning to a unified fleet centered on the Boeing 737 MAX. Among the major U.S. carriers, it is known for its relatively stable financial position.
* Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks. Verify actual compensation with each airline's official recruitment information.
| Position | Salary Range | Avg / Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Captain International widebody |
$239K–$365K |
$308K | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
$107K–$226K |
$179K | Seniority-based |
Figures are converted at USD/JPY = 150. Compensation is denominated in USD and quoted pre-tax, and is subject to U.S. federal income tax (top rate 37%) plus state tax. A new 2024 collective bargaining agreement raised captain compensation. Pay follows a seniority system; all figures are reference values based on industry standards.
Modeled from the captain / first-officer ranges above, sliced into standard career stages. Bands marked est. are derived from those ranges (not official); verified bands come from active-pilot data. Management pay is crowd-sourced from verified pilots.
| Career Stage | Years | Annual (pre-tax) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadet / Trainee | ≤2 yrs | $32K–$53K | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | $107K–$161K | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | $140K–$193K | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | $173K–$226K | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | $239K–$296K | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | $274K–$330K | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | $308K–$365K | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
Operates from West Coast hubs such as Seattle, San Francisco, and Portland to destinations throughout the United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, and Costa Rica.
Boeing 737-900/MAX 9, B737-800/MAX 8, and Airbus A319/A320/A321 (inherited from Virgin America). Approximately 350 aircraft.
Type rating training conducted at an FAA-certified ATO (Approved Training Organization). Uses Part 142 training centers such as CAE and FlightSafety. Ground school → simulator → LOFT.
After obtaining the type rating, Initial Operating Experience is carried out accompanied by an instructor captain (Check Airman), typically around 25–50 legs.
A Proficiency Check (PC) or Line Operational Evaluation (LOE) conducted one to two times per year, in compliance with FAA Part 121/135.
Primarily seniority-based. Requires meeting the necessary flight hours (typically 5,000–8,000+ hours) and passing a check administered by a Check Airman. An R-ATP (1,500 hours) program is available.
Pass travel for employees and their families — free or heavily discounted travel on Alaska's own flights and on partner carriers.
Comprehensive health insurance for employees and their families. Loss-of-license insurance is also commonly provided.
A defined-contribution retirement plan (401(k)) with company matching; matching of up to 5–16% is common.
Roughly 15–30 days per year (increasing with seniority), with flexible leave options such as trip flips and skips.
A daily allowance on flying days (roughly $2–4 per hour), differing between domestic and international operations.
Additional allowances and accommodation expenses for crew operating international flights.
Hiring status: Regular hiring ongoing. Open to FAA ATP holders. U.S. work authorization required.
Japanese nationals require a work visa (such as H-1B) or permanent residency. Competition for these positions is high.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska Airlines 🇺🇸 | $239K–$365K | $107K–$226K | Income tax applies |
| ANA 🇯🇵 | $138K–$220K | $88K–$132K | ~33% (Japan) |
| JAL 🇯🇵 | $138K–$220K | $88K–$132K | ~33% (Japan) |
* Salary figures are SSOT reference values (pre-tax unless marked tax-free). ANA / JAL shown as the Japan baseline — ~33% income tax applies in Japan, so after-tax take-home is lower than the headline. Tax-free carriers pay 100% take-home. Verify exact figures with each airline.
Alaska Airlines captain pay averages about $308K per year (range $239K–$365K), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
Alaska Airlines first officer pay averages about $179K per year (range $107K–$226K), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
Captain / First Officer (Regular Hiring) — Domestic and international operations. Seattle / Portland based.. Key requirements — License: FAA ATP (1,500h) or R-ATP (1,000h); English: Native or fluent; Min. Flight Hours: Captain 7,000h+ (guideline); Work Eligibility: U.S. citizenship / permanent residency / work visa required. Japanese nationals require a work visa (such as H-1B) or permanent residency. Competition for these positions is high.
Alaska Airlines captains average $308K, versus roughly $170K at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, Alaska Airlines captains earn about $26K a month and first officers about $15K. What actually lands each month moves with block hours flown, and where an annual bonus is paid the regular monthly figure sits lower with a spike in the bonus month.
Alaska Airlines first officers average $179K and captains $308K — a step of about $129K, or roughly 1.7×. The full range runs $107K to $365K, and where you sit inside it is set by seniority, type rating and the routes you fly. The seniority table on this page breaks the same range into career stages.
Every figure on this page is gross, before income tax. Captains average $308K and first officers $179K pre-tax, and income tax, social insurance and any local levies come out of that. Take-home depends on where you are resident and on your own deductions, so no single percentage applies. Airlines based in countries with no personal income tax — the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia — leave more of the same gross figure in your hand.
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Pilot salary in the USA 11 airlines · captain avg $276K