Here's How Much Delta Air Lines Pilots Make in Minnesota

Commercial pilots for Delta Air Lines, Minnesota's biggest airline, are enjoying the second year of a new contract that gave them a hefty pay hike. But just how much money do they actually make?

It's probably safe to say that many employees across Minnesota and the country haven't had much of a raise recently. And even if they *did* get a raise, it probably wasn't as much as pilots for Delta Air Lines are now enjoying.

How Big a Raise Did Delta Air Line Pilots Get?

That's because Delta, the largest commercial airline here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, offered its pilots a new contract last year that includes a 34 percent raise over the next three years That's not a typo, (not 3.4 percent, for example) it is, in fact, a pay increase that will be at least 34 percent!

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According to this Aero Explorer story, 78 percent of Delta's 15,000 pilots-- a decent number of whom are based here in the North Star State-- approved that new back in early 2023. The contract went into effect on March 2nd, 2023, and means all Delta pilots earned an 18 percent raise last year, with another 5 percent raise here in 2024, plus an additional increase of 4 percent set for both 2025 and 2026.

So how much money do pilots for Delta Air Lines make per year?

This Flying story says Delta pilots already earn a pretty hefty salary, depending upon their experience and the aircraft they fly.

Pilot pay at Delta Air Lines ranges from $64,000 per year for a new first officer up to $257,000 per year for a senior captain.

A group of eight Delta pilots gathered before the historic Delta sign in Atlanta. (Delta Air Lines)

And, in addition to great pay, Flying says Delta pilots also get some decent benefits, too, including:

Profit-sharing
Retirement savings plan
Training and professional development
Competitive life insurance
Comprehensive medical insurance, including dental and optometry
Paid leave benefits
Free and discounted flights

Becoming a commercial pilot isn't cheap

If you'd like to earn your wings and become a pilot, it's going to cost you. Flying says tuition at a flight school can run anywhere from $80,000 to a whopping $400,000 depending on what type of school you attend. So, you'll need some of those salaries just to pay off the debt you incurred while in flight school!

Both stories noted that the massive raise Delta offered its pilots is a result of the company's attempts to retain pilots in the wake of a continuing shortage caused by the pandemic, and has been duplicated at several other airlines, as well.

Now while pilots DO make a pretty good living, they're likely NOT among the richest people in America. Keep scrolling to see WHO are the richest-- and how they did it!