What pay does Delta publish for its pilots?

Neither Delta's nor ALPA's announcement of the 2023 agreement gives a pay figure per rank. Delta says the contract, which runs through December 2026, positions its 15,000 pilots to continue leading the industry in total compensation. ALPA reported that the agreement includes over $7 billion in cumulative increases over four years.12

What do Delta first officers and captains earn?

Aviation consultant Kit Darby estimated in the Dallas Morning News in March 2024 that a Delta first officer flying the smallest aircraft can make an average of $109,212 a year. In the same overview of estimates, the newspaper put a captain on the largest aircraft at $420,876 a year on average. These are estimates, not figures from the contract.8

What raises does the 2023 contract include?

Delta's annual report for 2023 says the four-year Pilot Working Agreement, effective January 1, 2023, includes an initial pay rate increase of 18% and a one-time payment upon ratification of $735 million. The report for 2024 records base pay increases of 5% effective June 1, 2024 for eligible employees and on January 1, 2024 for Delta pilots. The report for 2025 records a 4% increase for Delta pilots on January 1, 2025.345

How much profit sharing do Delta pilots receive?

Delta employees receive 10% of the first $2.5 billion the airline earns and 20% above $2.5 billion. For 2025, employees shared $1.3 billion, an estimated payout of 8.9% of eligible annual earnings, or more than four weeks of extra pay on average. For 2024, the payout was $1.4 billion, an estimated 10% of eligible earnings or an average of five weeks of extra pay. Delta also sponsors a market based cash balance plan for eligible pilots, funded by company contributions in excess of IRS limits in the 401(k) plan.567

When does the Delta pilot contract become amendable?

According to ALPA, 78 percent of Delta pilots voted in favour of the agreement in 2023, and it becomes amendable on December 31, 2026. Delta's annual report for 2025 lists about 17,260 Delta pilots represented by ALPA, with the same amendable date.25

What is the military leave lawsuit about?

A federal judge in Georgia, Sarah Geraghty, certified a class action on August 7, 2026 in a lawsuit by Delta pilots over short-term military leave, Atlanta News First reported. The pilots allege Delta pays for jury duty, bereavement and sick leave but excludes short-term military leave of 30 consecutive days or fewer. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that more than 3,300 pilots are seeking back pay.910

How does this compare with US pilots generally?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, US airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers had a median annual wage of $232,140 in May 2025.11