United vs Delta vs American Airlines for Pilots: Comparing Career Opportunities and Benefits

Choosing which airline to work for as a pilot is a big decision. 

You want to pick the best option for your career. The top three U.S. airlines – United, Delta, and American – all offer good jobs for pilots. 

But they have some key differences.

United, Delta, and American Airlines all pay their pilots well, but United and Delta tend to offer slightly higher salaries than American.

 Pay isn’t everything, though. 

Each airline has its own culture and benefits that may appeal to different pilots.

You’ll also want to think about where you’d like to be based. 

United has hubs in cities like Chicago and San Francisco. 

Delta’s main hub is in Atlanta. 

American has a big presence in Dallas.

Let’s look closer at what United, Delta, and American offer their pilots.

Pilot Recruitment Criteria

Exact requirements for each of these airlines can be challenging to nail down. They generally don’t publish the exact flight hour requirements in part, because they change based on their need for more pilots. 

We’ve done our best to gather information from those who have spoken with recruiters to get an understanding of the current requirements these airlines are looking for. 

Because of this, these numbers should only be considered general guidelines, not hard and fast requirements.

Minimum Pilot Requirements for United

To become a pilot at United Airlines, you need to meet several key qualifications:

• Hold an ATP certificate
• Have a valid First Class Medical Certificate
• Possess at least 3,000 hours of total flight time
• Accumulate 800 hours of turbine PIC time
• Complete a bachelor’s degree (preferred, not required)

United also requires you to have a valid passport and the ability to work in the U.S. You must pass a background check and drug test.

Minimum Requirements for Delta

Delta Air Lines has similar but slightly different criteria for pilot applicants:

• Hold an ATP certificate with multi-engine rating
• Have a valid First Class Medical Certificate
• Log at least 3,000 hours of total flight time
• Accumulate 1,000 hours of turbine PIC time
• Complete a bachelor’s degree (preferred, not required)

Delta also requires you to have unrestricted travel privileges to all Delta destinations. You must be fluent in English and pass background checks.

Minimum Requirements for American

American Airlines’ pilot recruitment criteria include:

• Hold an ATP certificate
• Have a valid First Class Medical Certificate
• Log at least 2,500 hours of total flight time
• Accumulate 1,000 hours of turbine PIC time
• Complete a bachelor’s degree (preferred, not required)

American also requires you to have the legal right to work in the U.S. and pass background checks. 

United vs Delta vs American: Pilot Training

Pilot training at each of these organizations will follow a similar pattern.

You’ll have ground school where you’ll learn about company procedures, processes, and culture. You’ll also have ground school where you focus on your individual aircraft. 

After that you’ll typically have several stages of simulator training where you learn all of the checklists and flows for your specific aircraft. 

Once you’ve completed that you’ll have your initial operating experience (IOE) flying where you fly with a check airmen to make sure you know what you’re doing in the airplane. 

Then you’ll be released from IOE and fly your regular line. 

Career Advancement Opportunities

Once you’ve reached one of the three major airlines the next career advancement step is becoming a captain. 

The process varies between United, Delta, and American Airlines. Each airline has different requirements and timelines for becoming a captain.

Just like the requirements section, there aren’t hard a fast rules for the upgrade process. The upgrade timeline will vary heavily based on how many captains are retiring. More retirements mean more open captain spots. 

But as retirements slow down upgrade opportunities will also slow down. 

The requirements and timelines listed below are based only on what we could learn from speaking to pilots at major airlines. As such, they should only be considered as an estimate.

Upgrading to Captain at United

At United Airlines, upgrading to captain typically takes 5-7 years. You’ll need to meet these requirements:

• Minimum 1,000 hours as First Officer
• Complete Captain training program
• Pass oral and simulator checks

United has a large fleet, giving you more opportunities to upgrade. The airline’s growth also creates new captain positions regularly.

United Airlines has aggressive growth targets over the next decade which should open up more upgrade opportunities. 

You’ll find support from senior pilots during the upgrade process. United’s culture promotes mentoring and helping others advance their careers.

For the last year United has been hiring direct entry captains as well.

Upgrading to Captain at Delta

Delta Air Lines offers a structured approach to becoming a captain. The process usually takes 6-8 years. Key steps include:

• Accumulating at least 1,500 hours as First Officer
• Completing advanced training courses
• Passing oral and simulator checks

The airline’s strong financial position means steady growth and new captain slots. You’ll also have the option to change aircraft during your career which may open up more opportunities to upgrade.

Upgrading to Captain at American

At American Airlines, the timeline to upgrade to captain is typically 6-8 years. Requirements include:

• Minimum 1,000 hours as First Officer
• Successful completion of Captain Leadership Program
• Passing oral and simulator checks

American’s large route network offers diverse flying experiences. This can help you build the skills needed for captain roles faster.

American emphasizes internal promotions, giving you a clear path to captain once you meet the requirements.

Salary and Benefits

Pay scales for pilots at United, Delta, and American Airlines are actually quite similar. Over the past year all three have renegotiated their contracts, bringing their pay on par with one another.

Pay Scale for United Pilots

As a new first officer, you can expect to earn around $116 per hour. This rate increases with experience and promotions.

After 12 years on the 777, you could make about $438 per hour as a captain on a wide-body aircraft. United also provides annual profit sharing and retirement benefits.

Read our full article that covers United Airlines pilot pay.

Pay Scale for Delta Pilots

Delta Air Lines has a similar pay structure to United. As a new first officer, you might start at $113 per hour. Just as the other airlines your pay will increase rapidly within the first few years, climbing to about $213 by year five.

After 12 years and an upgrade to captain on a wide-body plane, you could earn about $355 per hour. Delta is known for its strong profit-sharing program, which can significantly boost your annual income.

Read our full article that covers Delta Air Lines pilot pay.

Pay Scale for American Pilots

American Airlines recently negotiated a new contract for its pilots. As a first-year first officer, you can earn about $116 per hour.

With 12 years of experience as a captain on a wide-body aircraft, your hourly rate could reach $342. American also offers profit sharing and other perks.

Read our full article that covers American Airlines pilot pay.

Pay rates at all three airlines can lead to annual earnings over $400,000 for senior captains. Your exact compensation will depend on your specific role, aircraft type, and flight hours.

Work-Life Balance and Scheduling

Pilots’ work-life balance depends heavily on scheduling practices. Each major airline has its own approach, impacting pilots’ time off and quality of life.

All airlines use a seniority system where the pilots with the highest seniority are more likely to get the exact schedule they bid for. While the pilots at the bottom of seniority have a harder time getting the schedule they want. 

Each of these airlines typically offers a few different trip length options. With most offering 2-5 day trips.

As a newer airline pilot you can expect 12-14 days off per month but as you gain seniority it’s normal to hover around 15 days off per month.

Fleet and Destinations

Each major U.S. airline has a unique fleet composition and route network. The aircraft variety and destinations served can impact a pilot’s career opportunities and experiences.

Aircraft Variety at United

United Airlines operates a diverse fleet of both narrow-body and wide-body aircraft. You’ll find Boeing 737s and the A320 in their narrow-body lineup. For long-haul routes, United uses Boeing 777s and 787 Dreamliners.

The airline’s most-used aircraft is the Boeing 737-900. This plane is popular for domestic and short international flights.

United also flies the largest version of the 787, the 787-10. This gives you a chance to pilot one of the most advanced commercial jets.

Aircraft Variety at Delta

Delta Air Lines boasts a mixed fleet of Boeing and Airbus aircraft. You’ll have opportunities to fly the Airbus A320 family, including the A321, which is Delta’s most-used aircraft.

For long-haul flights, Delta operates Boeing 767s and Airbus A330s. The airline has also invested in the Airbus A350, a modern wide-body jet.

Delta’s fleet also includes the A220 which is a smaller aircraft, similar in size to many regional airline jets and allows them to land on shorter runways.

Aircraft Variety at American

American Airlines maintains a large and diverse fleet. You’ll find Boeing 737s and Airbus A320 family aircraft for short to medium-haul routes. The Boeing 737-800 is American’s most frequently used plane.

For long-distance flights, American operates Boeing 777s and 787 Dreamliners. The airline has the largest fleet of 787-9s among U.S. carriers.

Company Culture and Pilot Satisfaction

Another important factor you’re probably considering is company culture. 

One of the challenges with measuring this is every pilot has a different experience. And most pilots only ever work for one major, so they can’t really say which on is “better” than another. 

So we’ve mined social media and checked with pilots at each major to give you some opinions on what each company culture is like. 

Pilot Feedback for United

United Airlines pilots generally speak positively about their workplace. Many praise the friendly and welcoming atmosphere among crew members. United’s culture seems to blend a mix of domestic and international flying opportunities.

Some pilots appreciate the chance to fly widebody aircraft on long-haul routes. Others enjoy the variety of domestic routes available. This diversity can suit different pilot preferences and career goals.

United’s company culture appears to value both experience and advancement. You might find opportunities to upgrade to captain or stay in a first officer role on larger aircraft, depending on your priorities.

Pilot Feedback for Delta

Delta Air Lines often receives high marks for pilot satisfaction. 

The company consistently ranks well in employee ratings on platforms like Glassdoor. Pilots frequently mention Delta’s strong financial performance as a positive factor.

Delta’s culture seems to emphasize professionalism and reliability. You may find a work environment that values punctuality and operational excellence. 

This focus can lead to a sense of pride among pilots.

Other pilots have reported some Delta pilots can come across as a bit more arrogant than others but you’ll find that at pretty much every airline.

The airline’s route network offers a mix of domestic and international flying. This balance can provide varied experiences and career growth opportunities for pilots at different stages of their careers.

Pilot Feedback for American

American Airlines pilots have expressed mixed feelings about their workplace culture. 

You might encounter a more complex work environment at American Airlines. The airline has gone through mergers and restructuring, which can impact company culture and pilot satisfaction.

Despite challenges, American offers a vast route network and diverse fleet. 

This can provide ample opportunities for pilots to gain experience on different aircraft types and routes. Your experience may vary depending on your base location and seniority level.

Union Representation and Pilot Advocacy

Pilot unions play a crucial role in advocating for fair wages, benefits, and working conditions at major U.S. airlines. Each carrier has its own union dynamics and negotiation history.

Pilot Unions at United

United Airlines pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA). This union has a strong presence at United and has negotiated significant contracts for its members.

ALPA recently secured a deal for United pilots that includes pay raises of up to 40% over four years. This agreement set a new industry standard for pilot compensation.

United’s union is known for its active engagement in contract negotiations. They focus on improving work-life balance and addressing scheduling concerns.

Pilot Unions at Delta

Delta Air Lines pilots are also represented by ALPA. The union has a unique relationship with Delta, as the airline was non-unionized for many years.

ALPA at Delta recently negotiated a contract that matched the industry-leading pay rates set by United. This deal includes substantial pay increases and improved work rules.

Delta’s pilot union emphasizes career progression and job security in its advocacy efforts. They work to ensure Delta pilots have competitive benefits and working conditions.

Pilot Unions at American

American Airlines pilots are represented by the Allied Pilots Association (APA). This independent union is known for its strong advocacy and sometimes contentious relationship with management.

The APA recently reached an agreement with American that matches the pay rates offered by United and Delta. This deal came after intense negotiations and pressure to remain competitive.

American’s pilot union focuses on addressing operational issues and improving quality of life for its members. They actively push for changes in scheduling practices and work rules.

Future Outlook and Industry Growth

The airline industry is poised for growth in the coming years. Pilots can expect different career opportunities and trajectories at United, Delta, and American Airlines. Each carrier has unique plans for expansion and development.

Career Projections at United

United Airlines is aiming for significant growth. The company plans to increase capacity by 3.4% in 2025. This expansion will likely create new pilot positions.

You can expect: 

• More international routes
• Potential for faster career advancement 
• Increased focus on fuel-efficient aircraft

United’s strong financial performance may lead to competitive salaries and benefits for pilots. The airline’s emphasis on modernizing its fleet could offer you opportunities to fly newer aircraft types.

Career Projections at Delta

Delta Air Lines shows promise for pilot careers. The company has demonstrated strong revenue and net income, which often translates to job stability and growth.

Key points for your career at Delta: 

• Steady expansion of routes 
• Emphasis on customer service excellence 
• Potential for profit-sharing bonuses

Delta’s focus on operational reliability may result in a more predictable work schedule for you. The airline’s investment in technology could lead to improved pilot training programs and working conditions.

Career Projections at American

American Airlines is working to balance its network and improve profitability. This strategy may impact pilot career trajectories in unique ways.

Your career outlook at American:

• Gradual expansion of international routes 
• Focus on operational efficiency 
• Potential for varied flying experiences

American’s efforts to balance domestic and international growth could provide you with diverse flying opportunities. The airline’s push for cost control might lead to more efficient operations, potentially affecting pilot schedules and compensation structures.