Qantas 787 pilots earn significantly, with First Officers starting around AU$100k-$144k+ and increasing with experience, while senior Captains on the 787 can earn well over AU$400,000, even reaching AU$500,000+ annually when including allowances, bonuses, and productivity pay, placing them among the highest-paid in Australia.
Domestic narrowbody captains often earn AUD 200,000 to AUD 300,000 annually. Long-haul captains on aircraft like the Boeing 787 and Airbus A380 regularly exceed AUD 400,000, with top earners approaching AUD 500,000 including allowances.
How much does a 787 Pilot make? As of Jan 7, 2026, the average annual pay for a 787 Pilot in the United States is $130,916 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $62.94 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,517/week or $10,909/month.
Pilots making $200k+ annually are typically captains at major airlines, especially on long-haul/widebody aircraft, or experienced cargo/corporate pilots, with earnings increasing significantly with seniority, flying larger jets, and potentially including substantial bonuses, profit-sharing, and allowances. For example, a first-year captain at a major US airline might hit $200k, while senior widebody captains can exceed $400k-$500k+ with experience, benefits, and bidding strategies.
The average salary for a Second Officer is $125,000 per year (estimate) in Australia, which is 8% lower than the average Qantas salary of $136,126 per year (estimate) for this job.
Salaries Vary by Airline
The average Delta Air Lines pilot earns $201,178 with top-earners making $526,000. American Airlines pilots earn an average salary of $145,995, with some pilots earning in excess of $700,000. Most importantly, pilot salaries continue to increase.
With experience, senior flight attendants may make around $80,287 annually, and some can earn as much as $115,000 or more per year. Pay is typically hourly and starts when the aircraft door closes, meaning preflight work (like boarding and prep) is often unpaid.
Being an airline pilot is one of the few positions in the entire world where you become a millionaire while you're still on the job. A 20 to 30 year career as an airline pilot will earn you anywhere from 10 to 13 million dollars.
High Paying Pilot Jobs
Right now, both the United States and ICAO, which is part of the United Nations and regulates international flights, require pilots to retire when they reach 65. Aviation unions have long opposed raising the age, citing safety concerns.
A Miami-based American Airlines Boeing 737 captain has posted their salary pay statement on reddit, leaving many people speechless. The pilot's total year to date compensation was $458K, with the hourly pay being $360+ (flight hours only).
Discover the top 3 reasons why pilots adore the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, from its powerful engines to advanced flight deck technology and revolutionary air conditioning system.
Qantas is currently the highest-paying airline. However, here's a breakdown of the average wages earned across Australia's leading airlines: Qantas: the average salary for a Qantas commercial pilot is $100,281 per year , with annual bonuses between $2000 and $38000 per year, depending on experience, location, and role.
More than many other professionals in roles typically associated with stress, pilots are considered to be highly affected by stress levels.
How much does a Boeing 787 Pilot make? As of Jan 2, 2026, the average annual pay for a Boeing 787 Pilot in the United States is $130,916 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $62.94 an hour. This is the equivalent of $2,517/week or $10,909/month.
Pilots making $200k+ annually are typically captains at major airlines, especially on long-haul/widebody aircraft, or experienced cargo/corporate pilots, with earnings increasing significantly with seniority, flying larger jets, and potentially including substantial bonuses, profit-sharing, and allowances. For example, a first-year captain at a major US airline might hit $200k, while senior widebody captains can exceed $400k-$500k+ with experience, benefits, and bidding strategies.
Aircraft Type
The larger and more complex the aircraft, the higher the pay. For example: Narrowbody aircraft (like a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320) typically pay less than. Widebody aircraft (like a Boeing 787 or Airbus A350), which can significantly boost hourly rates—especially for Captains.
The 3:1 rule in aviation is a rule of thumb for descent planning: for every 1,000 feet of altitude to lose, you need 3 nautical miles (NM) of horizontal distance, assuming a standard 3-degree glide path, making it easy to calculate when to start descending. For example, to descend 6,000 feet, a pilot starts descending 18 NM out (6 x 3 = 18). It helps maintain a consistent descent rate, critical for passenger comfort in older planes and for fuel efficiency in modern jets, and aligns with standard approach systems like ILS/VASI.
So the first major reason they quit is just plain fear from stalls or that solo. Next, is poor quality instruction. The way our system works today, most CFIs are only instructing in order to build hours to get a “real” flying job.
🛫 Top 10 Richest Pilots in the World (2025) 1. Howard Hughes – Estimated net worth: $11 billion.
We have flight attendants who are 30 years old and have to move back in with their parents because they can't afford to live with this job. “Most of our passengers have no idea that we are only paid from the time the door closes until the door opens.”
The 35/7 rule for flight attendants limits Reserve Flight Attendants to a maximum of 35 flight hours in any seven consecutive days, primarily for scheduling purposes to manage fatigue and ensure safety, although actual operations can sometimes exceed this if waivers are used and regulations are met. While Lineholders often work to a 30/7 (30 hours in 7 days) limit, they can also complete trips exceeding 35 hours if they waive the rule. This rule, alongside recent FAA mandates for longer rest periods (like 10 hours after 14-hour shifts), aims to provide adequate recovery for cabin crews.
This is not a healthy mindset. It is possible to live on this minimum wage pay, but it requires discipline, and awareness. It's not always fun, but if you are able to find a balance for yourself between spending, and saving, living independently on what a flight attendant makes, you will give yourself a gift.