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People defend American Airlines pilot’s jaw-dropping salary after pay slip goes viral

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29 December 2025

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People defend American Airlines pilot's jaw-dropping salary after pay slip goes viral

An American Airlines plane parked at a gate at the LaGuardia Airport in New York City. — Most people dream of a job that pays well enough to free them from the stress of making ends meet. And among the highest paying professional careers is becoming a pilot (which makes sense, really, considering they’re responsible for the safe delivery of hundreds of passengers travelling tens of thousands of feet up in the air). How much pilots get paid varies depending on the airline and experience, but one American Airlines pilot recently revealed their annual salary – and people can’t believe how money they’re raking in. (Picture: REUTERS)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 17: An American Airlines Airbus A321 airplane departs from Los Angeles International Airport en route to Dallas on October 17, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images) — The pilot shared their salary in a since-deleted Reddit post in the subreddit r/salary, which was then later shared in a post on X, where it’s been viewed more than 1.3 million times. The pay slip detailed their $361-an-hour base rate, as well as compensation for random alcohol and drug testing. The pay period was dated 11/16/2025 – 12/01/2025, making it a bi-weekly pay slip, during which time the pilot had earned a whopping $35,963.66. (Picture: Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

Travelers check in at an American Airlines desk at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, on November 25, 2025, ahead of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP via Getty Images) — The biggest chunk of money, unsurprisingly, came from their time actually flying a plane, while other funds came from a profit-sharing programme, sick pay, and ‘premium incentives’ (flying late at night, for example). The pay slip also revealed the pilot’s year-to-date earnings, which came in at a huge $457,894.51. Supposedly, the screenshotted paystub was of a Miami-based American Airlines Boeing 737 captain. (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

Travelers check in at an American Airlines desk at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, on November 25, 2025, ahead of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday. (Photo by KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI / AFP via Getty Images) — But perhaps even more shocking is that the $360-per-hour salary isn’t even the highest pay tier for pilots. Captains of other planes, such as Boeing 777 or Airbus A350 can earn up to $450 per hour. But that doesn’t mean that pilots can fly as many hours as they want and earn millions of dollars. Their hours are limited by regulations, and they must factor in getting enough rest between flights, too. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules, duty periods are restricted to a maximum of eight hours for flight crews consisting of one pilot and 10 hours for flight crews consisting of two pilots within a 14-hour period. (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 12: An American Airlines plane takes off near the air traffic control tower at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on November 12, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has reduced flights by 10 percent in 40 major airports around the country, including LAX, with airlines warning that flight disruptions could continue even after the end of the federal government shutdown as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) — The pay slip prompted mixed reactions online, with many users uttely gobsmacked at the nearly half a million figure. On Reddit, one user commented: ‘Dude makes what I make in a month in a day’. Another added: ‘$360/hr is craziness. I design the planes and engines you’re flying and I make just over 1/5 of that with 15 years experience and a master’s degree.’ And one said: ‘This kind of salary is something a European pilot could only dream of…’ For comparison, The British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) puts the average rate for a first officer flying long-haul on a A330/B787 at upwards of £55,000 per year. (roughly $74,000). (Picture: Mario Tama/Getty Images)

American Airlines jets sit parked at their jetways at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) — However, many were supportive of the high level of pay the American Airlines pilot is earning. On X, one user quipped: ‘I am absolutely fine with the bloke who’s in charge of the machine that is holding me 35k ft in the air being paid a lot of money.’ Another said: ‘What’s the problem? It’s a pretty important and skilled job.’ And on Reddit, one user wrote under the pay slip post: ‘The reaction here is embarrassing. A pilot makes nearly 500k and suddenly people are tripping over themselves to explain why they don’t deserve what they earn. Pilots have strong unions, rare skills, years of training, and massive responsibility, and they collectively negotiated pay that reflects that. Instead of being bitter about someone else’s success, maybe ask why more workers don’t have that kind of leverage.’ (Picture: AP)

An American Airlines jet on the tarmac at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport — And with the hourly pay rate so high, many also questioned whether they should make a career change to become a pilot and reap the monetary benefits. One Reddit user asked: ‘Damn is a career change at 33 into this even possible?’ Another simply said: ‘Note to self: Get pilot’s license.’ But if you’re thinking about re-training as a pilot, there’s a lot to consider – getting a pilot’s license is a long, intense and costly process. (Picture: Getty Images)

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Ronen Tivony/NurPhoto/Shutterstock (15632951c) An American Airlines airplane approaches Miami International Airport for landing in Miami, Florida. American Airlines Airplanes Landing At Miami International Airport, United States - 29 Oct 2025 — To be a pilot in the US, you must obtain an FAA-issued pilot certificate. But, before you can even take lessons, you need to obtain an FAA medical certificate to show that you meet medical standards. You can then take flight training lessons, and will need to pass the FAA pilot knowledge test and a practical exam. At a minimum, it usually takes around a year and a half to complete training and become a pilot, and aspiring airline pilots must log a minimum of 1,500 total flight hours to earn an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, which is necessary to fly for US airlines as a first officer. (Picture: Ronen Tivony/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)

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