B777 (widebody freighter) · 
EMA · minimum 1,500 hours · permanent · pay: GBP 78,000 per year
EMA · minimum 1,500 hours · permanent · pay: GBP 78,000 per yearHome · Pilot salaries · Airline type
Cargo pilot salary 2026
First officer pay at 21 cargo airlines runs from $19k to $299k a year gross, with a median of $100k. The highest figure in this list is at FedEx Express. Captain pay at 22 cargo airlines runs from $77k to $422k a year gross, with a median of $177k. The highest figure in this list is at FedEx Express.
Gross yearly pay in US dollars, converted at current exchange rates. Monthly pay is counted 12 times, hourly rates at 900 paid hours a year. Figures come from collective agreements, official airline packages, the aviation press and, where nothing better exists, unofficial figures (marked). Updated 3 Nov 2026.
| Airline | First officer | Captain | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS Airlines United States | $54k–256k | $361k | Press |
| FedEx Express United States | $102k–299k | $295k–422k | Agreement / official |
| Amerijet International United States | $194k | $288k | Press |
| Lufthansa Cargo Germany | $92k–192k | $183k–312k | Unofficial |
| National Airlines United States | $108k–184k | $203k–266k | Unofficial |
| Cargolux Airlines International Luxembourg | $96k–104k | $179k–278k | Agreement / official / Unofficial · scale by aircraft on airline page |
| Martinair (KLM Cargo) Netherlands | $79k–214k | $155k–281k | Agreement / official · scale by aircraft on airline page |
| Kalitta Air United States | $105k–192k | $148k–284k | Press |
| Lynden Air Cargo United States | $104k–200k | $149k–266k | Unofficial |
| Challenge Airlines (BE) Belgium | $101k–154k | $170k–229k | Agreement / official |
| AeroLogic Germany | $69k–131k | $145k–220k | Unofficial |
| ASL Airlines Belgium Belgium | $64k–103k | $129k–215k | Unofficial |
| DHL - European Air Transport Leipzig Germany | $65k–109k | $135k–172k | Unofficial |
| One Air United Kingdom | $70k–105k | $117k–174k | Agreement / official |
| ASL Airlines Ireland Ireland | $82k–114k | $119k–166k | Unofficial |
| Silk Way West Airlines Azerbaijan | $90k–109k | $127k–154k | Unofficial |
| Empire Airlines United States | $70k–71k | $130k–131k | Agreement / official |
| CMA CGM Air Cargo France | $72k–105k | $104k–152k | Unofficial |
| ASL Airlines France France | $22k–89k | $89k–134k | Unofficial |
| Cargojet Canada | $56k | $103k | Agreement / official |
| West Atlantic UK United Kingdom | – | $99k | Press |
| Ameriflight United States | – | $77k–97k | Agreement / official |
| Swiftair Spain | $19k–30k | – | Unofficial |
Open vacancies (22)
B777F · 
Essen (training) · minimum 0 hours
Essen (training) · minimum 0 hoursB777F · LEJ · minimum 500 hours · permanent
LEJ · minimum 500 hours · permanentATR 72/42 · Europe (not specified) · minimum 3,000 hours
ATR 72/42 · Europe (not specified) · minimum 350 hours
A330 · 
Netherlands (AMS) · minimum 5,000 hours
Netherlands (AMS) · minimum 5,000 hours