Largest US carrier by passengers. Oneworld member. Top-tier pay.
American Airlines, founded 1930, has major hubs at Dallas (DFW), Charlotte (CLT), Philadelphia (PHL), and Miami (MIA). With routes to 50+ countries and 350+ cities, it's a Oneworld leader.
2024 contract revisions pushed captain pay to industry-leading levels. Year 12 widebody captains earn about $573,000/year (~¥86M). ~1,500 pilot hires planned for 2026.
* 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 |
¥50.1M–¥86M |
¥59.3M | Pre-tax |
| First Officer Seniority-based |
¥17.1M–¥52.6M |
¥34.4M | Seniority-based |
💡 USD/JPY=150. Federal income tax applies. Maximize 401(k)/HSA to increase take-home. 1,500 pilot hires planned for 2026. Japan routes (NRT/HND/OSA).
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 | ¥5.1M–¥8.6M | est. |
| First Officer — Junior | 3–5 yrs | ¥17.1M–¥33.1M | est. |
| First Officer — Mid | 6–10 yrs | ¥27M–¥42.7M | est. |
| First Officer — Senior | 11–15 yrs | ¥36.6M–¥52.6M | est. |
| Captain — New | 15–18 yrs | ¥50.1M–¥66.3M | est. |
| Captain — Mid | 19–24 yrs | ¥60.2M–¥75.9M | est. |
| Senior Captain | 25+ yrs | ¥69.8M–¥86M | est. |
| Management / Instructor / Examiner | — | Data wanted | crowd-sourced |
DFW largest hub worldwide. Routes to Japan (NRT/HND/OSA), Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Caribbean. Widebody international, narrowbody domestic.
B777-300ER, B787-8/9, A321neo, B737 MAX
Fort Worth or Charlotte training centers. Ground → simulator → IOE. Fully paid.
Seniority-based aircraft/route/base selection system.
Typically 7–12 years. Seniority and fleet vacancies drive timing. Check ride required.
State-of-the-art facility adjacent to DFW HQ. Multiple latest-generation simulators.
Proprietary pilot development program with partner schools.
Proficiency checks 1–2x per year.
Company matching contributions. Key retirement vehicle.
Performance-linked profit distribution. Significant bonus potential in good years.
Free/discounted tickets for self and family. Oneworld partner access.
Comprehensive family health insurance. HSA option.
Income replacement for loss of license.
Continuing education and children's scholarship programs.
Hiring status: Actively Hiring
* US work authorization required. AA Cadet Academy pathway available. 1,500 hires planned 2026.
| Airline | Captain (range) | First Officer | Income Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Airlines 🇺🇸 | ¥50.1M–¥86M | ¥17.1M–¥52.6M | Income tax applies |
| ANA 🇯🇵 | ¥22M–¥35M | ¥14M–¥21M | ~33% (Japan) |
| JAL 🇯🇵 | ¥22M–¥35M | ¥14M–¥21M | ~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.
American Airlines captain pay averages about ¥59.3M per year (range ¥50.1M–¥86M), pre-tax. Figures are reference values based on public data and industry benchmarks.
American Airlines first officer pay averages about ¥34.4M per year (range ¥17.1M–¥52.6M), pre-tax, rising with seniority — see the Career Ladder above for the year-by-year breakdown.
First Officer — All Aircraft — B737/A321/B757/B767/B787/B777. Key requirements — License: ATP Certificate; Min. Hours: 1,500h (military/university: 1,000h); Work Auth.: US Green Card or citizenship required. US work authorization required. AA Cadet Academy pathway available. 1,500 hires planned 2026.
American Airlines captains average ¥59.3M, versus roughly ¥27M at ANA / JAL. Both figures are pre-tax; Japan applies ~33% income tax.
Dividing the annual average by 12, American Airlines captains earn about ¥4.94M a month and first officers about ¥2.87M. 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.
American Airlines first officers average ¥34.4M and captains ¥59.3M — a step of about ¥24.9M, or roughly 1.7×. The full range runs ¥17.1M to ¥86M, 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 ¥59.3M and first officers ¥34.4M 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 ¥4,380万