Comparison · 2026
United Airlines vs UPS Airlines Pilot Pay
Captain base salary compared side by side by year of experience, 2026.
Captain base salary: United Airlines vs UPS Airlines
| Year | United Airlines | UPS Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $316,387 | $57,000 |
| Year 5 | $326,582 | $312,000 |
| Year 10 | $339,465 | — |
Base salary, Captain scale. Comparison shown before taxes and add-ons.
Comparing United Airlines and UPS Airlines pilot pay for 2026: at the top of the experience range shown here, United Airlines leads on base salary by about $27,465. United Airlines ranges from $316,387 to $339,465, while UPS Airlines runs from $57,000 to $312,000.
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.