Comparison · 2026
Southwest Airlines vs United Airlines Pilot Pay
Captain base salary compared side by side by year of experience, 2026.
Captain base salary: Southwest Airlines vs United Airlines
| Year | Southwest Airlines | United Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $320,640 | $316,387 |
| Year 5 | $331,200 | $326,582 |
| Year 10 | $343,680 | $339,465 |
Base salary, Captain scale. Comparison shown before taxes and add-ons.
Comparing Southwest Airlines and United Airlines pilot pay for 2026: at the top of the experience range shown here, Southwest Airlines leads on base salary by about $4,215. Southwest Airlines ranges from $320,640 to $343,680, while United Airlines runs from $316,387 to $339,465.
Base salary alone rarely settles which airline pays more. Profit sharing formulas differ significantly between carriers and can swing total compensation by tens of thousands of dollars in a strong year. Retirement contributions, per diem rates, and — critically — the state a pilot is based in for tax purposes all shift the real take-home comparison.
The table below compares base salary side by side. For a complete comparison including profit sharing, 401(k), per diem, and tax-adjusted take-home across every year of a career, open the pay explorer and select both airlines.