Allegiant Pilot Salaries: How Much Do Allegiant Pilots Make?
Feb 26, 2025
About Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air was founded as WestJet Express in 1997. After a legal dispute with WestJet Air Center in South Dakota, the airline rebranded to Allegiant Air. Today Allegiant Air has over 1,000 pilots and flies to over 120 destinations in the US and Caribbean.
What makes Allegiant Air different is their operational model. Most airlines fly to every city daily.
Allegiant does not. They fly on a more fragmented schedule which can make commuting challenging for pilots. As a result, many Allegiant pilots choose to live at their assigned base. This operational model allows Allegiant to offer lower fares and a larger network of destinations.
Overview of Allegiant Air Pilot Salaries
Flying for Allegiant Air as an airline pilot can be lucrative. The average hourly rate for an Allegiant pilot is $103. That’s with the pay structure being competitive and the operational demands of the airline.
Pilot salaries at Allegiant vary greatly. New pilots can make around $194,915 a year and senior pilots can make up to $234,471 a year. That’s progress and big money in this company.
The pay an Allegiant Air pilot gets is based on several things: aircraft flown, total flight hours and trip bidding during ops. All those things combined impact total pay for a pilot job at Allegiant Air.
This summary paves way to explore how much First Officers versus Captains make in greater detail by dissecting specific salary ranges Down each respective rank ladder.
First Officer Salary Breakdown
In their first year with Allegiant Air, First Officers make approximately $51,300. While this may not be as much as other regionals are offering, the opportunities for advancement are huge.
As you build experience and time with the airline, your annual salary can grow to around $109,800 by year five.
While the starting pay is on the lower end of the Allegiant pay scale for new pilots, it’s a launch pad to big pay and big progress.
With commitment and hard work during these early years at Allegiant, you’ll be setting yourself up for success ahead. For many aspiring pilots, becoming a First Officer at Allegiant Air is the first step towards achieving their dream job.
Captain Salary Breakdown
New captains at Allegiant make $145,000 a year. That’s in line with the industry and a big job with big responsibilities. As captains at Allegiant gain experience and seniority they can make a lot more money over time.
Factors Influencing Allegiant Pilot Pay
Allegiant pilot pay is based on the aircraft model and total flight hours. For First Officers at Allegiant the annual pay can range from $145,000 to $210,000 depending on their experience and qualifications.
The airline’s rapid growth not only gets pilots to seniority faster but also to a higher pay scale. With plans to expand operations, Pilots at Allegiant can move into more senior positions within a few years which increases their pay scale even more.
This is somewhat similar to how united airlines pilot pay scale operates, where seniority and experience directly impact earnings.
Additionally, having a bachelor's degree can enhance a pilot's qualifications and potentially lead to higher pay.
To these factors affecting Allegiant pilot pay are location base and having specific certifications that enhances one’s skills. Knowing these is key for those who want to maximize their earning potential and advance in their aviation career while working at Allegiant Air.
Flight Hours and Experience
Flight hours and experience are key to a pilot's salary at Allegiant Air. Captains can make up to $210,000 with a lot of experience and tenure. The starting salary for an Allegiant Air captain is around $145,000 but that can increase significantly with more flight hours and experience.
More flight hours = more earning potential, that’s why it’s important to log hours and develop your skills over time.
Prospective pilots should invest in their flying career early to reap the benefits later.
Base Location Impact
A pilot's salary at Allegiant Air is heavily based on their base location due to the cost of living in different cities. So, pilots based in larger cities will make more due to the higher cost of living and demand there.
When considering job opportunities with Allegiant Air, make sure to factor in the cost-of-living adjustments for each base location.
Additional Compensation and Benefits
Allegiant pilots get more than just their base pay. They get a robust compensation package that adds to their income. Per diem allowances, profit sharing, extra override pays and 401k contributions aren’t included in the base pay but add to the pilot’s total pay.
This allows Allegiant pilots to get richer. Pilot salaries can change based on industry demand and pilot shortages may cause salary structures to change including bonuses.
Allegiant pays its pilots through multiple ways to show its commitment to rewarding them for their service.
Per Diem and Bonuses
Allegiant Air pilots get multiple allowances and bonuses that add to their total pay. They get paid for a minimum of 4 hours for overnight stays to cover the inconvenience of being away from home.
Pilots who pick up extra shifts at Allegiant get double pay for overtime, nice way to make more money.
New hired First Officers at Allegiant get a retention bonus of 82% of the $47.34 difference between their current rate and any raise given.
Those extra financial incentives along with per diem pay adds to the salary and total compensation package that Allegiant offers to its pilots.
Union Benefits
Unions get benefits for Allegiant pilots, to ensure their job security and improve their pay. This includes negotiating health insurance and retirement plans that is stable for both pilots and their families.
Allegiant Air matches 401k retirement plan contributions up to 200% of pilot contributions. Through the unions, allgiant pilots get employment security and compensation packages that go beyond the paycheck.
Career Progression at Allegiant Air
At Allegiant Air, the career path for pilots is full of opportunities to advance. First Officers at Allegiant can move into a Check Airman or Simulator Instructor position which not only develops their skills but also increases their pay as they move up.
For pilots at Allegiant, experience level, base location and certifications play a big role in their pay. It’s important for officers to understand these factors to optimize their career and financial rewards at Allegiant Air.
Training and Development Programs
Allegiant. Air offers 10–12-week training program for pilots to learn the essential skills and knowledge. This includes ground school education, systems integration learning and full flight simulator training.
To accommodate different learning styles, Allegiant offers training on site in Las Vegas and Sanford facilities as well as online platforms. This way pilots are extremely well prepared for their job.
Pathway to Captaincy
First Officers at Allegiant can become Captains by meeting the experience and certification requirements of the airline, a clear path to career advancement and higher pay.
Minimum Qualifications for Allegiant Pilots
To be a pilot with Allegiant Air, you must meet minimum requirements. You must have a current First-Class Medical Certificate which verifies you meet FAA medical standards. To become an Allegiant pilot, you must meet regulatory requirements and Allegiant requirements.
Meeting these requirements is key to having Allegiant pilots ready and safe and operational.
Regulatory Requirements
Allegiant Air pilots are regulated by TSA, DOT and FCC. To be considered for a pilot position with Allegiant, you must have an FAA First Class Medical Certificate and an unrestricted Airline Transport Pilot Certificate.
You must have a valid FAA commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating and an FCC Radio Telephone Operator Permit.
TSA security threat assessments are required for all pilots at Allegiant Air to maintain safe and secure flight operations.
Airline-Specific Criteria
Allegiant. Air requires pilot candidates to have at least 1,500 hours total time to be considered qualified. They must have at least 1,000 hours fixed wing turboprop or turbofan and 50 hours multi engine time. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Allegiant Air’s requirements for pilots:
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1,500 hours total time
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1,000 hours fixed wing turboprop or turbofan
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50 hours multi engine time
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Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school
By meeting these airline specific requirements Allegiant ensures their pilots are highly qualified to meet the airline’s high safety and performance standards.