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The Street

Laura Rodini

FedEx pilot salary: How much does the world’s largest cargo airline pay?

FedEx Boeing UPS McDonnell Douglas Delta Airlines Pandemic United Airlines United States

Love to fly? Some of the world’s best-paid pilots make money delivering cargo — not passengers.

FedEx Corp. (FDX) operates the world’s largest cargo airline through its subsidiary, FedEx Express. Every day, its fleet of 5,000 pilots and 697 aircraft transport packages and freight to millions of customers in 220 countries around the globe, accounting for 40% of FedEx’s total revenues.

FedEx Express’ “SuperHub” headquarters is located at Memphis International Airport, with additional hubs across the United States in Anchorage, Fort Worth, Indianapolis, Newark, and Oakland. Abroad, you’ll find their familiar purple and orange logo in airports in Cologne, Dubai, Milan, Osaka, Paris, and Shanghai.

Becoming a FedEx pilot could be an aspiring aviator's ticket to traveling the world, earning competitive pay and benefits, and avoiding the hassle of piloting passenger aircraft.

But just how much does the shipping and logistics giant pay its cargo pilots?

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How much are FedEx pilots paid?

According to Aviation Interviews, which tracks data from over 200,000 aviation professionals, the starting yearly pay rate for a FedEx captain of Boeing 757 aircraft is $139,416, while a first officer on the same aircraft makes $47,952.

Captains of McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft with 12 years of experience make $194,472, while first officers on the same aircraft with the same amount of experience make $139,416.

Here’s a look at the FedEx pilot pay scales of a few other aircraft as well:

FedEx captain yearly pay rates

Aviation Interviews
Aircraft	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
McDonnell Douglas DC-10	$164,280	$182,928	$182,928	$183,816	$184,704	$185,592	$186,480	$187,368	$187,368	$190,032	$191,808	$194,472
Boeing 727	$143,856	$159,840	$160,728	$161,616	$162,504	$163,392	$164,280	$165,168	$166,056	$167,832	$169,608	$171,384
Boeing 757	$139,416	$155,400	$156,288	$156, 288	$157, 176	$158,064	$158,952	$159,840	$160,728	$162,504	$165,168	$166,944

FedEx first officer yearly pay rates

Aviation Interviews
Aircraft	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6	Year 7	Year 8	Year 9	Year 10	Year 11	Year 12
McDonnell Douglas DC-10	$49,728	$113,664	$113,664	$116,328	$118,104	$120,768	$123,432	$125,208	$127,872	$131,424	$134,976	$139,416
Boeing 727	$49,728	$95,904	$99,456	$102,120	$103,896	$106,560	$109,224	$111,000	$113,664	$118,104	$121,656	$126,096
Boeing 757	$47,952	$93,240	$96,792	$98,568	$101,232	$103,008	$105,672	$108,336	$110,112	$114,552	$118,104	$122,544

These numbers are higher for even larger aircraft, according to data from the Air Line Pilots Association. A FedEx captain of a widebody MD-11 or Boeing 777 makes $277 per hour in the first year and $326.50 with 12 years on the job, which translates to about $363,000 per year.

Does UPS or FedEx pay pilots more?

FedEx’s pilot careers webpage states that the company offers its pilots “competitive pay.” However, as reported in Freightwaves, a supply chain news and intelligence provider, as of January 2024, FedEx pilots made about 10% less than their counterparts at UPS and 15% less than commercial pilots at United Airlines or Delta Airlines.

Here’s the pay breakdown per airline for a veteran captain flying 80–90 hours a month:

FedEx: $363,000
UPS: $393,000
Delta Airlines: $416,000
United Airlines: $416,000

As a result, FedEx’s pilots’ union has spent over two years on its latest contract negotiations in order to achieve greater parity with competing airlines (more on that below).

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How many days a month do FedEx pilots fly?

Just like their payscale, the time a FedEx pilot works depends on their aircraft and their personal preference. They are guaranteed a minimum of 74 hours per month, and their schedule is split 60/40 between nighttime and daytime work.

According to FDX Pilot History, a FedEx pilot’s schedule consists of 15 workdays in a four-week month, and 18 days in a five-week month.

More employment content:

What are some of FedEx pilot’s benefits?

FedEx pilots receive vacation time, health insurance, life insurance, disability and 401(k) benefits with a company match. When away from home, pilots receive a per diem, and they and their families enjoy travel perks.

What are the advantages & disadvantages of flying for FedEx?

Pilots say flying freight for FedEx is a great way to travel the world, make good money, and meet new friends, although downsides include working at night and flying through hazardous weather conditions.

FedEx’s longest cargo route stretches from Memphis to Hong Kong, and all of its fleet operate with advanced technology, such as infrared systems that help pilots navigate in low visibility, like snow and fog.

But as the surge in demand for shipping and e-commerce brought about from the COVID-19 pandemic has waned, FedEx has experienced some near-term turbulence. In 2023, its Ground and Express divisions underwent restructuring in order to streamline operations. In May 2024, FedEx lost a major contract from the United States Postal Service worth nearly $2 billion, fueling even more challenges.

In addition, in March 2024, negotiations stalled for a new contract for FedEx pilots. The contract, which had been on the table since 2022, was worth $3.8 billion and called for a 30% increase in pay over 4.5 years.

Hopefully, once the union and management see eye to eye, they’ll find clearer skies ahead. FedEx forecasts improved profitability in its fiscal year 2025, and overall, the outlook for cargo pilots is strong. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the broader commercial pilot industry will add more than 15,000 jobs per year through 2032. E-commerce demands may have shifted at the end of COVID-19, but they will never go away, meaning that consumers and businesses will always require global delivery services from companies like FedEx.

The fact that hundreds of cargo pilots retire every year means that FedEx always seems to be hiring, and that’s another promising sign if you’re looking for a job in the cockpit.

How does being a FedEx pilot compare to being a commercial airplane pilot?

There are many similarities between FedEx’s cargo pilots and commercial airline pilots. Both are required to complete flight school, obtain licensure, and undergo thousands of hours of extensive training. In the air, they control the aircraft, follow safety protocols, and communicate with air traffic control.

Each set of pilots also inspect the aircraft before and after flights, record maintenance issues, and maintain flight records.

In accordance with U.S. federal aviation regulations, both commercial and cargo flights are required to have at least two pilots: A captain, who sits on the left and is primarily responsible for the flight, and a first officer, who sits on the right and is often in training to become a captain. On longer flights, such as international flights and those more than 8 hours, a third pilot provides relief.

While commercial airline pilots transport hundreds of people (and often, thousands of pounds of baggage underneath in the hold), cargo pilots primarily transport freight.

Both operate commercial aircraft, such as the Airbus 300 and Boeing’s 747, 767, and 777 jets, but their interior spaces are markedly different. Cargo planes maximize space through wide, open interiors and floors lined with electric rollers to transport cargo efficiently. These aircraft feature large doors that make loading and unloading easy — even the aircraft's nose can be opened for loading cargo. They also have pressurization systems that keep internal temperatures stable.

An average-sized cargo plane, like a Boeing 747, can carry up to 248,600 pounds of cargo, which is about as much as five tractor-trailers.

Some cargo planes are decommissioned passenger planes, while others have custom-built containers that fit on the lower decks of the aircraft, like airstables, which are equipped to safely transport horses, livestock, and exotic animals. The largest cargo planes are known as “super transporters:” They can haul helicopters, other airplanes, military equipment — even a space shuttle.

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