With the rising cost of living impacting the little disposable income many Americans have, finding a job that alleviates financial worries is highly desirable.
So, where can one find a job that offers enough pay to eliminate financial struggles?
The solution might not be in working harder in your current role for a potential raise or promotion, but rather by retraining as a pilot for a Boeing 737. While this may require significant effort, it could be worthwhile with an annual salary of $457,894.
This is the reality for one American Airlines pilot who earned this substantial amount last year while ensuring countless passengers reached their destinations safely. This figure doesn’t even represent the highest potential earnings for seasoned pilots.
After sharing his impressive earnings on Reddit, a user commented: “Dude makes what I make in a month in a day.”
American Airlines pilot posted in the salary sub… $360+ per hour base… $35k+ biweekly gross after all of the incentives… 😭https://t.co/U6tD7OaPXH pic.twitter.com/61s1F0yrJ7
— fso tee (@fienixtaranova) December 22, 2025
Many others pondered whether a career change was feasible for them, especially after realizing they might never earn close to a pilot’s pay, which can exceed $360 an hour.
Adding to this, legal guidelines limit pilots to a maximum of 1,000 flying hours per year. This means the pilot achieved a $457,000 salary by working an average of just under 20 hours per week.
The most surprising part of the now-deleted salary post is that this pilot isn’t earning as much as some others in the industry.
Travel publication One Mile at a Time noted that the pilot could earn 25 percent more by learning to fly the larger Boeing 777, potentially increasing his base pay to $447 per hour before additional benefits.
According to the American Airlines pilot’s pay stub, many pilots also receive a profit share incentive from their employers. Some Delta pilots, for example, can earn over $600K due to the company’s substantial profits.
These high salaries are likely to remain. Pilot pay has seen significant increases recently due to strong unions, with more raises expected in the coming years.
However, pursuing this lucrative career isn’t straightforward. Achieving the necessary experience and qualifications to fly large planes takes years and can cost up to $100k for certifications and flight time.
Furthermore, the high earnings don’t come immediately. New pilots typically start with smaller regional aircraft or freight flights to accumulate the flight hours needed to pilot larger, higher-paying planes.
A Reddit user provided insight: “It can be anywhere from 9 months to 10 years depending on how much money and time you have.
“You’re looking at $100k+ for all of your certifications and ratings. A first year FO at a regional airline is making around $150k a year, but that’s a long ways away from your discovery flight.”
While some criticize the hefty salaries, a retired pilot shared a valuable perspective: “I’m retired now…but when I flew professionally, the generally accepted opinion was that ‘you’re overpaid almost all the time…until those 30 critical seconds in an emergency when you earn it all’.”