Pay & conditions · North America
Southwest Airlines: pilot jobs, pay and conditions
USA · Low-cost · WN / SWA
Not hiring
Pilot hiring paused per careers page (Oct 2026); Destination 225 pathway.
Pay
First officer
USD 125.9–240.2 an hour
about $113–216k a year
Captain
USD 314.76–343.14 an hour
about $283–309k a year
2026 rates per Trip-for-Pay (TFP) unit, not block hour: FO yr1 $125.90, FO yr12 $240.20, CA yr1 $314.76, CA yr12 $343.14. +4% in 2026.
Agreement news
- SWAPA Fast Facts 2025 ↗
Southwest Airlines Pilots Association (SWAPA) · summary · 2024–2029
Open vacancies (0)
No open pilot vacancies listed right now.
Conditions
- Allowances
- 18% non-elective 401(k) + 2% cash balance plan (2026); profit sharing plan.
- Roster
- Line/reserve; TFP-based monthly credit guarantees.
- Fleet
- B737-700, B737-800, B737 MAX 8
- Benefits
- 401(k) 18%, cash balance plan, travel.
- Union
- SWAPA
- Careers site
- southwestair.com ↗
Requirements
- Type rating
- company-paid
- Licence
- FAA ATP, AMEL, English Proficient
- Other
- 500 hr fixed-wing turbine preferred; active flying 2 of last 5 yrs
Sources
From an agreement or official source · figures from 2024-09 (amendable 2029-01) · checked 30 Oct 2026
Compare Southwest Airlines with other airlines → All pilot salaries →