Southwest Airlines is a major U.S. carrier headquartered in Dallas, Texas (Love Field). The airline pioneered the low-fare, point-to-point model in the United States and remains one of the largest domestic carriers, flying exclusively Boeing 737 family jets.
With a strong culture of seniority-based pilot progression and a single-aircraft-type fleet, Southwest emphasises operational simplicity and internal advancement. As the airline adapts to a dynamic market and renewed pilot contract terms, pilot recruitment and retention continue to be key priorities.
Southwest Airlines Pilot Salary
Here is a look at what it means and requires to be a pilot for the carrier.
Southwest Airlines First Officer Salary
In 2025, a first officer at Southwest Airlines typically begins with an hourly base rate of around US$133 per hour, which equates to about US$106,000 per year, assuming approximately 75 credited hours per month.
With increasing years of service, a first officer may earn up to about US$255 per hour, equating to roughly US$229,000 per year before allowances. These figures are before adding overtime, layover pay, and profit-sharing.
Since Southwest operates only one aircraft type and flights generally range from short to medium-haul duration, there is not a huge variance in first officer salaries.
Southwest Airlines Captain Salary
Captains at Southwest Airlines in 2025 receive an hourly base rate starting from around US$334 per hour, with average rates of approximately US$347 per hour and top hourly rates approaching US$364 per hour.
If a captain flies about 75 hours per month at an average rate of US$347 per hour, the annual base pay works out to roughly US$311,000 per year.
At top hourly levels, flying full months, base pay can approach US$327,000 per year, and when allowances, premium flying, and profit-sharing are included, many captains exceed US$347,000 per year, with some reporting totals well above US$400,000 per year.
As with other airlines, Southwest’s captains also earn fairly on par with one another, owing to the carrier’s uncomplicated operational structure.
ALSO READ: JetBlue Pilot Salary in 2025
Benefits Enjoyed by Southwest Airlines Pilots
Over and above their salaries, Southwest Airlines pilots enjoy the following benefits.
- Travel Privileges – Pilots and their eligible family members receive complimentary or heavily discounted standby travel on Southwest Airlines and partner carriers, allowing them and their dependents to fly for significantly reduced cost.
- Overnight and Layover Allowances – Whenever pilots are rostered on flights requiring overnight stays away from their home base, they receive allowances designed to cover hotel, meals, and incidental expenses associated with layovers.
- Health and Retirement Benefits – Southwest offers comprehensive medical, dental, and life insurance coverage to its pilots. The airline also contributes to retirement plans and offers profit-sharing opportunities that support long-term financial security beyond active flying years.
- Loss of Licence Protection – In the event a pilot becomes medically unfit to continue operating aircraft, Southwest provides protection mechanisms or reassignment options to maintain a level of income stability during recovery or transition.
- Training and Career Advancement – Pilots at Southwest have access to recurrent and upgrade training, simulator sessions, and a clear progression path from first officer to captain. Senior captains may also take on additional duties such as instructor or check airman roles.
- Work-Life Balance Support – The airline maintains structured rosters, rest-period protections, and scheduling frameworks aimed at allowing pilots to maintain a meaningful personal life alongside a demanding flying career.
- Additional Income Opportunities – Senior pilots have opportunities to increase their earnings via instructor duties, simulator checks, premium sequences, flying extra monthly hours, and profit-sharing.
- Wellness And Mental Health Support – Southwest provides wellness programmes, peer support networks, and mental-health resources tailored to its pilot workforce, recognising the unique demands of commercial aviation.
What Aircraft do Southwest Airlines Pilots Fly?
- Boeing 737-700 — 334 in service
- Boeing 737-800 — 203 in service
- Boeing 737 MAX 8 — 273 in service
In addition to over 800 planes in its existing fleet, Southwest also has 314 Boeing 737 MAX 7 and 196 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft on order.
Requirements To Become A Pilot For Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines requires its pilots to fulfil the following requirements, with narrower experience demands published depending on the kind of role they are looking to fill.
- Applicants must hold a valid Airline Transport Pilot Licence issued by the Federal Aviation Administration and meet Southwest Airlines’ minimum flight-hour threshold.
- Candidates must possess a valid FAA Class 1 medical certificate demonstrating full physical and mental fitness to serve in commercial pilot operations.
- Strong English language proficiency, both spoken and written, is required for clear, safe communication with crew and air traffic control.
- The candidate must have legal authorization to live and work in the United States without restriction at the time of hire.
- Prior experience flying commercial jets in a multi-crew environment is highly preferred; structured training programmes may also qualify in some cases.
- Applicants should show excellent decision-making skills, strong teamwork and leadership capabilities, and the ability to perform under pressure.
- Flexibility to work irregular hours, adapt to roster changes, and adhere to Southwest’s culture of customer focus, safety, and reliability is essential.
- Candidates must embody the airline’s operational culture, uphold its values, and demonstrate professional excellence at all times.
Hiring Process
Southwest Airlines has a six-step hiring process for its pilots, which is as below.
- Application – Prospective pilots submit an online application through Southwest Airlines’ careers portal, providing licences, logbook summaries, a valid medical certificate, and a resume detailing previous experience.
- Initial Screening – The recruitment team conducts an eligibility review of all applicants to verify minimum requirements such as licence status, medical fitness, and flight hours.
- Online Assessments – Short-listed candidates complete technical and aptitude tests assessing aviation knowledge, reasoning ability, and situational awareness applicable to airline operations.
- Simulator Assessment – Candidates passing the online stage undergo a simulator evaluation to test flying skills, crew coordination, decision-making, and response to abnormal scenarios.
- Interview Stage – Applicants meet with senior pilots and human resources personnel for in-person or virtual interviews focusing on operational understanding, communication, motivation, and cultural fit.
- Medical & Background Checks – Final candidates must successfully pass a Class 1 medical examination and complete full background, security, and regulatory checks before a formal employment offer is made.
Bottom Line
In 2025, Southwest Airlines offers pilots strong compensation potential within the U.S. domestic market. First officers enter at competitive wage levels, and captains with sufficient seniority can achieve substantial earnings, particularly when factoring in allowances and profit-sharing.
With its single-type fleet model, emphasis on internal progression, and robust benefits package, Southwest remains an attractive career destination for pilots seeking reliability, advancement, and meaningful compensation.
Southwest Airlines Pilot Salary FAQs
First officers at Southwest earn approximately US$106,000 per year at entry level and may rise to around US$229,000 per year with experience. Captains typically earn between US$311,000 and US$327,000 per year in base pay, with many exceeding US$347,000 per year including allowances and profit-sharing.
Pilots are based at Southwest’s major operational hubs, including Dallas-Love Field, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Chicago-Midway and Orlando, among others. Roster assignments are managed by the central crew scheduling system.
Yes. Southwest is actively recruiting pilots in 2025 to support fleet renewal and senior pilot retirements. Openings and eligibility details can be found on the Southwest Airlines careers website.
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