Senior airline pilots at US low-cost carriers make well into the six figures but average less than their counterparts at Delta, United, and American Airlines. Artur Widak/NurPhoto
Senior airline pilots at Allegiant, Frontier, and Spirit earn up to $270,000 annually.
But their pay tends to be lower than it would be at Delta, American, and United.
Some pilot unions are angling for raises to align pay with their mainline counterparts.
Pilots at low-cost Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines, and Spirit Airlines make less than those at mainline giants, but they can still earn a base pay of up to $270,000 annually.
Pay at the three airlines — the US’ longest-standing and most well-known low-cost carriers — starts at about $58 for a first officer at Allegiant. That rises with experience to up to $312 per hour for Spirit’s most senior captains.
Business Insider compiled this pay data using airline contracts, verified by the pilots’ unions and companies.
US airline pilots commonly fly more than their monthly minimum and can earn additional per diem pay for time away from their base. They can also collect extra money from working specific flights or on holidays, for example.
Altogether, budget airline pilots can easily take home a six-figure salary by their second year on the job.
Their respective labor unions are also working to increase pilot pay at these smaller carriers to better align with compensation packages at mainline carriers American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines.
The annual base pay for budget airline pilots is based on their contractual monthly guarantees and seniority. They can vary from about $48,500 to $174,000 for first officers and from about $137,000 to $270,000 for captains.
The rates increase yearly at each airline, up to 12 years of service.
Allegiant Air
First-year first officer: $57.67 hourly or about $48,500 annually
12-year captain: $232 hourly or about $195,000 annually
Frontier Airlines
First-year first officer: $100 hourly or about $90,000 annually
12-year captain: $270.07 hourly or about $243,000 annually
Spirit Airlines
First-year first officer: $97.15 hourly or about $84,000 annually
12-year captain: $312 hourly or about $270,000 annually
Minimum pay is based on the monthly guarantee for those who hold a “line,” a pilot who knows their schedule ahead of time. Reserve pilots are those who are assigned as needed.
Allegiant’s contract offers a minimum of 70 hours for line pilots and 72 hours for reserve pilots. Frontier’s 75-hour minimum and Spirit’s 72-hour minimum are the same, regardless of line or reserve.
Senior Spirit pilots are the highest-paid among the US’ three budget carriers. Pilots can earn extra pay for working holidays.Joe Cavaretta/Tribune News/Getty Images
Most pilots can earn extra money by operating more monthly hours than guaranteed, working holidays, and flying premium pay trips, among other opportunities, depending on the specifics for their airline.
For example, a 12-year Spirit captain who flew 80 hours in December, including on Christmas Day, would earn about $25,000 for the month before taxes and per diem. That includes a contractual $75 for working the holiday.
Spirit’s contract guarantees about $2.30 per hour per diem on top of that. Allegiant and Frontier’s contracts show hourly per diem is $2 and $2.20, respectively.
The same Spirit captain who maintained an 80-hour monthly schedule all year would earn about $300,000 annually before taxes and any contractual premium pay. At Allegiant and Frontier, that would amount to about $223,000 and $260,000, respectively.
Allegiant pilots who fly over 81 hours monthly earn 130% pay, per its contract.Ryan Fletcher / Shutterstock.com
Despite being among the highest-paid workforce in the US, the budget airline pilots are vying for pay increases.
Allegiant, Frontier, and Spirit’s contracts are all up for renewal as of Feburary, meaning the carriers are still paying out previous years’ rates as the labor unions actively negotiate pay bumps.
Frontier has been bargaining for more than a year, while Allegiant has been bargaining since 2021. Spirit’s contract negotiations are stalled as it addresses Chapter 11 bankruptcy amid revenue and cost problems, with hundreds of its pilots on furlough.
The three budget carriers’ current pay rates are well below those offered by Delta, American, and United, all of which saw massive pay bumps amid a pilot shortage during the post-pandemic travel rebound.
A spokesperson for Frontier’s pilot union told BI its pilots fly the same Airbus A320 family narrowbody planes as many of the Big 3 pilots but make less.
Frontier’s contract shows pilots earn a premium pay of 125% for flying more than 82 hours a month.Kevin Carter/Getty Images
For example, a 12-year A320 captain at United earns about $373 per hour — $61 more than Spirit, $103 more than Frontier, and $141 more than Allegiant.
United’s rate is about the same as American and Delta. Adding in bonuses, holiday pay, per diem, and other extra pay opportunities, many senior mainline pilots can earn half a million annually.
Frontier told BI the company is engaged in contract bargaining.
“We look forward to working toward an agreement that is fair, sustainable, and supports our pilots while ensuring the continued success of our company,” the airline said.
Spirit did not respond to a request for comment from BI.
Allegiant told BI it has proposed a “competitive” pay package in its negotiations with the pilot union.
This includes upping first-year first-officer pay to about $114 hourly, which is close to the about $120 an hour new A320 first officers make at the Big 3. Its 12-year captain pay would jump to about $340 hourly.
Allegiant also said it has been building a retention bonus fund to be paid out to pilots after a new contract is signed, which would mean thousands of dollars in extra pay. It said the bonus for senior captains would amount to over $100,000.
