Delta Airlines offers one of the most competitive pilot pay for its pilots. As we all are aware that pilot salaries differ widely depending on the aircraft type and years of experience, with the pay and benefits increasing annually over the years of continuous service. In 2025, Captains at Delta earn between $323,000 and $446,000, while First Officers’ annual base salary ranges from $138,000 to $304,000.
Unsurprisingly, those flying the widebody aircraft command the highest salary, however even those flying the regional and narrowbody aircraft types have a competitive pay package.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Delta Airlines pilot salaries, including yearly salary by aircraft type, alongside the carrier’s global operating bases, and a snapshot of its current fleet in 2025. Whether you’re an aspiring pilot or just curious about how Delta compensates its cockpit crews, this breakdown provides clarity on what pilots can expect.
Captain Salary at Delta Airlines (2025)
Delta Airlines Captains earn one of the highest salaries in 2025, with their annual pay based on the aircraft type and years of service at the airlines. Those on the left seat of the widebody aircraft earn the highest base rates, with those commanding the narrowbody and regional jets still earning attractive pay rates. Captains at Delta reportedly receive annual pay raises for the first 12 years, after which their hourly rate plateaus.
The following breakdown reflects estimated yearly base pay for Captains assuming 80 flight hours per month (or 960 per year), which is the maximum number of hours they can fly on a monthly basis.
Note that all figures are rounded to the nearest dollar and do not include additional compensation such as per diem, bonuses, or profit-sharing.
Widebody Aircraft Captain Salary
Captains flying Delta’s widebody fleet including the flagship Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 are paid the highest salaries in the system. In 2025, their estimated base pay ranges from $409,718 at year one to $446,525 at year twelve, assuming the maximum of 80 flight hours per month. This pay reflects the long-haul nature of their flying, which typically comes with greater operational complexity and higher seniority, besides the decades long training and hands-on experience.
Delta’s pay structure for widebody Captains is among the most lucrative in U.S. commercial aviation industry. While the base salary is tied to years of service and an hourly rate, total compensation can climb even higher with profit-sharing, per diems, and international override pay. The high pay rates alongside a range of additional benefit makes this position a highly sought-after career goal for Delta pilots.
Hourly Rate (all identical): starting at $426.79 and rising to $465.13.
| Years of Service | Hourly Rate | Estimated Annual Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $426.79 | $409,718 |
| 2 | $430.24 | $412,230 |
| 3 | $433.76 | $416,409 |
| 4 | $437.26 | $419,770 |
| 5 | $440.77 | $423,139 |
| 6 | $444.23 | $426,460 |
| 7 | $447.73 | $429,821 |
| 8 | $451.18 | $433,133 |
| 9 | $454.68 | $436,493 |
| 10 | $458.15 | $439,824 |
| 11 | $461.62 | $443,155 |
| 12 | $465.13 | $446,525 |
Mid-Size Aircraft Captain Salary
Delta Captains commanding the mid-size aircraft including the Boeing 757 and Airbus A321neo earn a basic annual salary starting at around $339,821 in the first year and reached around $373,770 by year twelve. These aircraft are usually deployed on transcontinental and medium-haul routes, which often include high-frequency routes and a handful of narrowbody international flights.
Although not quite as high as widebody pay, mid-size aircraft salaries still offer excellent earning potential and the opportunity to balance high income with more domestic or regional operations. Captains in this category benefit from a consistent hourly pay progression, positioning them well for potential upgrades to widebody fleets.
Average hourly rate based on the individual aircraft types hourly salary.
| Years of Service | Average Hourly Rate | Estimated Annual Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $353.98 | $339,821 |
| 2 | $356.98 | $342,701 |
| 3 | $359.88 | $345,491 |
| 4 | $362.79 | $348,278 |
| 5 | $365.88 | $351,251 |
| 6 | $368.73 | $353,981 |
| 7 | $371.47 | $356,611 |
| 8 | $374.54 | $359,558 |
| 9 | $377.20 | $362,112 |
| 10 | $381.25 | $366,000 |
| 11 | $385.36 | $369,946 |
| 12 | $389.34 | $373,770 |
Narrowbody Aircraft Captain Salary
Captains flying Delta’s narrowbody jets like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family jets are paid an estimated annual salary of between $323,138 and $352,619. The narrowbody jets constitute most of Delta’s domestic flights and short-haul international flights.
This branch offers a competitive pay to those pilots who desire less flying, more return trips to home base, or to schedules that allow lifestyle balance. Narrowbody captains earn more than their annual salary, especially when considering overtime, leadership bonuses, and reliability incentives.
Averaged across all six aircraft types
| Years of Service | Average Hourly Rate | Estimated Annual Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $336.60 | $323,138 |
| 2 | $339.29 | $325,718 |
| 3 | $342.10 | $328,416 |
| 4 | $344.92 | $331,123 |
| 5 | $347.64 | $333,734 |
| 6 | $350.35 | $336,336 |
| 7 | $353.15 | $339,029 |
| 8 | $355.92 | $341,683 |
| 9 | $358.76 | $344,410 |
| 10 | $361.59 | $347,126 |
| 11 | $364.46 | $349,881 |
| 12 | $367.31 | $352,619 |
Note: These are averages of six aircraft types: A220-300, A220-100, A320/319, B737-800/900, and B717.
Regional Jets Captain Salary
Delta Captains operating regional jets in 2025, including the Embraer 190/195 and Bombardier CRJ-900 command an estimated base annual salary that starts at around $229,499 and goes up to $250,540 over the course of twelve years of service. These aircraft usually serve short-haul markets primarily under the banner Delta Connection, pumping traffic into large hubs and providing needed service into smaller cities.
Despite having the lowest compensation for regional jet Captains at Delta’s mainline and affiliate operations, a number of regional pilots use regional jet Captain posts as stepping stones while gaining seniority or in anticipation of narrowbody mainline fleet vacancies.
Averaged across all three aircraft types
| Years of Service | Avg Hourly Rate | Estimated Annual Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $239.07 | $229,499 |
| 2 | $240.93 | $231,293 |
| 3 | $242.98 | $233,261 |
| 4 | $245.12 | $235,314 |
| 5 | $247.26 | $237,369 |
| 6 | $249.29 | $239,319 |
| 7 | $251.24 | $241,190 |
| 8 | $253.21 | $243,084 |
| 9 | $255.25 | $245,040 |
| 10 | $257.26 | $246,970 |
| 11 | $259.37 | $248,995 |
| 12 | $260.98 | $250,540 |
Note: Average of EMB-195, EMB-190, and CRJ-900.
First Officer Salary at Delta Airlines (2025)
Delta Airlines First Officers also enjoy a competitive pay structure in 2025 depending on aircraft type and years of service. While the First Officers earn the highest salary, narrowbody and regional jets still provide solid pay progression and are commonly the starting point for new Delta pilots. Similar to the Captains, First Officer’s pay typically increases for the first 12 years, with rates leveling off thereafter.
The tables below reflect estimated annual base pay based on an average of 80 flight hours per month (960 hours per year). Figures are rounded to the nearest dollar and exclude additional earnings like per diem, bonuses, and profit-sharing.
Widebody Aircraft First Officer Salary
Widebody planes such as the Airbus A350, A330, Boeing 777, 787, and 767-400ER offer the highest hourly wages for First Officers at Delta Airlines. These widebodies often attract experienced First Officers as they will command a higher pay, operate longer flight segments, and receive international exposure. In 2025, widebody First Officers start at $120.69 per hour in their first year and can earn up to $317.73 per hour by their twelfth year.
Based on the maximum of 80 flight hours per month, this equates to an estimated annual base pay ranging from $115,862 to $304,998 over the years. However, this do not account for additional compensation including international override, per diem, and profit-sharing, which can boost total earnings by a margin.
Hourly Rate (all identical): starting at $317.73 and rising to $120.69
| Years of Service | Hourly Rate | Estimated Annual Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $120.69 | $115,862 |
| 2 | $230.20 | $220,992 |
| 3 | $269.38 | $258,605 |
| 4 | $275.90 | $264,864 |
| 5 | $282.49 | $271,190 |
| 6 | $289.65 | $278,064 |
| 7 | $297.70 | $285,792 |
| 8 | $304.54 | $292,358 |
| 9 | $307.86 | $295,546 |
| 10 | $312.03 | $299,542 |
| 11 | $314.83 | $302,236 |
| 12 | $317.73 | $304,998 |
Mid-Size Aircraft First Officer Salary
Senior First Officers flying Delta’s mid-size jets like the Boeing 767-300, 767-200, 757, and the Airbus A321neo face steady annual increases with pay rates well-placed between narrowbody and widebody aircraft. They fly on a mix of domestic and international routes, providing them with flexibility in flying experience.
Starting at $120.69 an hour in year one and reaching an average of $265.92 an hour in year 12, First Officers on these aircraft can expect to earn an estimated $115,862 in their first year, rising to $255,283 a year at top rate. The competitive pay makes mid-size aircraft a solid career track for First Officers working toward widebody upgrades.
Average hourly rate used across aircraft types
| Years of Service | Avg Hourly Rate | Estimated Annual Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $120.69 | $115,862 |
| 2 | $190.98 | $183,341 |
| 3 | $223.49 | $214,550 |
| 4 | $228.93 | $219,773 |
| 5 | $234.54 | $225,158 |
| 6 | $240.40 | $230,784 |
| 7 | $247.03 | $237,149 |
| 8 | $252.83 | $242,717 |
| 9 | $255.39 | $245,174 |
| 10 | $259.63 | $249,241 |
| 11 | $262.82 | $252,307 |
| 12 | $265.92 | $255,283 |
Narrowbody Aircraft First Officer Salary
Delta’s narrowbody fleet includes the Boeing 737 series, Airbus A320 family, and A220-100/300 series, which are all the workhorse of the airline’s short-haul international and domestic routes. These aircraft are typically the first platform for First Officers and represent a fair distribution of hours, pay, and predictability in scheduling.
First-year narrowbody First Officers make an average of $120.69 per hour, with pay increasing to approximately $254.99 per hour in year 12. This is equivalent to a base salary range of $115,862 to $244,790 per year. With regular increases and the potential to progress to larger aircraft, narrowbody jobs provide a stable path for early-career pilots.
Average across six aircraft types
| Years of Service | Avg Hourly Rate | Estimated Annual Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $120.69 | $115,862 |
| 2 | $184.82 | $177,427 |
| 3 | $216.20 | $207,552 |
| 4 | $221.47 | $212,611 |
| 5 | $226.79 | $217,715 |
| 6 | $232.45 | $223,152 |
| 7 | $238.95 | $229,392 |
| 8 | $244.47 | $234,691 |
| 9 | $247.08 | $237,197 |
| 10 | $250.42 | $240,403 |
| 11 | $252.72 | $242,611 |
| 12 | $254.99 | $244,790 |
Note: These are averages across A220-300, A220-100, A320/319, B737-800/900, and B717.
Regional Jets First Officer Salary
Regional aircraft such as the Embraer 190, Embraer 195, and CRJ-900 generally serve Delta’s short domestic sections and feeder markets. The airplanes represent the lowest by-the-hour ratings in Delta mainline First Officer ranks but form a crucial component of pilot career progression.
In 2025, Delta regional jet First Officers start at $120.69 an hour in year one and progress to $163.87 by year 12. Projected yearly pay is between $115,862 and $157,315, based on 960 hours a year. While lower in compensation, these aircraft often provide more frequent upgrade opportunities and help First Officers build seniority for future widebody or narrowbody assignments.
Averaged across all three aircraft types
| Years of Service | Avg Hourly Rate | Estimated Annual Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $120.69 | $115,862 |
| 2 | $120.69 | $115,862 |
| 3 | $138.95 | $133,392 |
| 4 | $142.33 | $136,637 |
| 5 | $145.70 | $139,872 |
| 6 | $149.40 | $143,424 |
| 7 | $153.56 | $147,418 |
| 8 | $157.10 | $150,816 |
| 9 | $158.78 | $152,429 |
| 10 | $160.94 | $154,502 |
| 11 | $162.46 | $155,962 |
| 12 | $163.87 | $157,315 |
Where Are Delta’s Bases?
Delta Airlines operates multiple bases across the United States and the globe. Bases are vital operational hubs that house pilots and flight attendants, enabling the coverage of US domestic and extended international routes. Below is an updated list of Delta’s bases:
U.S. Crew Bases:
- Atlanta, Georgia (ATL) – Delta’s largest and primary hub.
- Detroit, Michigan (DTW)
- Los Angeles, California (LAX)
- Minneapolis–St. Paul, Minnesota (MSP)
- New York City, New York (JFK and LaGuardia)
- Salt Lake City, Utah (SLC)
- Seattle, Washington (SEA)
International Crew Bases:
- Amsterdam, Netherlands (AMS)
- London Heathrow, United Kingdom (LHR)
- Paris Charles de Gaulle, France (CDG)
- Seoul Incheon, South Korea (ICN)
- Mexico City, Mexico (MEX)
- Tokyo Haneda, Japan (HND)
These bases play a crucial role in Delta’s global network and crew logistics, especially for international flying and long-haul operations.
Delta Airlines Fleet (May 2025)
Delta Airlines operates a modern, diversified mainline fleet consisting of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, covering everything from short-haul domestic routes to ultra-long-haul international services. The fleet strategy includes ongoing fleet renewal with next-generation aircraft such as the A321neo, A220 variants, and Airbus A350s.
As of May 2025, Delta has 983 aircraft in service and 283 on order, not including regional jets operated by Delta Connection partners.
Here’s a snapshot of the Delta mainline fleet:
| Aircraft Type | In Service | Orders | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A220-100 | 45 | – | Efficient for short-haul, 109 seats |
| Airbus A220-300 | 33 | 67 | Expanding; 130 seats |
| Airbus A319-100 | 57 | – | Older generation; 132 seats |
| Airbus A320-200 | 530 | – | To be retired; 157 seats |
| Airbus A321-200 | 127 | – | High-capacity domestic aircraft |
| Airbus A321neo | 73 | 82 | New generation, 194 seats |
| Airbus A330-200/300/900 | 75 (total) | 6 | Key for transatlantic and Asia routes |
| Airbus A350-900 | 36 | 8 | Long-haul flagship; 306 seats |
| Airbus A350-1000 | – | 20 | Deliveries begin in 2026 |
| Boeing 717-200 | 80 | – | Oldest narrowbody in fleet; 110 seats |
| Boeing 737-800/900ER | 240 | – | Workhorse of domestic ops |
| Boeing 737 MAX 10 | – | 100 | Deliveries expected to start in 2027 |
| Boeing 757-200/300 | 104 | – | High-capacity domestic and select transatlantic ops |
| Boeing 767-300/400ER | 60 | – | Being phased out by 2030 |
Delta’s fleet strategy is focused on fuel efficiency, passenger comfort, and long-term sustainability. The airline continues to retire older aircraft (such as the 757s and 767s) while introducing new-generation aircraft to meet modern operational demands.
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