UPS Captain salary 2025 is $310,000 per year. Here we will go over the pay scale, benefits and career path.

Key Takeaways

• Ups Captain salary is $310,000 per year, with salary growth based on experience over $460,000 for 15 years.

• The structured pay scale at Ups pays pilots based on seniority and flight hours to ensure competitive pay and security.

• Ups offers full benefits including health insurance, retirement plans and paid time off to top off the pilot compensation.

UPS Captain Salary Overview

The role of a UPS Captain is highly respected in the industry with an average salary of $310,000 in 2025. Why do pilots make so much?

The high pay is due to the specialized skills, extensive training, and significant responsibilities that come with the role, attracting many experienced pilots to become a UPS pilot salary professional.

A new hire will start at around $70,000 per year but this will increase rapidly with experience and additional responsibilities.

Senior captains at UPS get paid very well. For example, after 5 years of service a captain can earn around $425,771 per year.

After 10 years on the job that can increase to around $437,588 per year. 15+ years and you can earn over $460,119 per year. Hourly rates for top captains are around $401.

Being a UPS pilot is not just about the good starting salaries but also the potential for big growth over time pay scales increase based on parameters such as type of aircraft flown by pilots, hours flown.

For example, if you’re curious about how much does a JetBlue pilot make, the average salary for a JetBlue pilot in 2025 is approximately $217,000 annually. This helps provide some context for how competitive the salary structures are within the aviation industry.

The scale means those experienced and skilled pilots are well paid making becoming a carrier via this route very attractive to professionals in the commercial flight operations space.

Pay Scale Progression for UPS Captains

A structured pay progression is one of the big benefits of flying for UPS, providing stability and financial growth as the pilot moves up the ranks and gets more experience. It means pilots, both Captains and First Officer salary recipients, get paid for their service and their expertise.

At the start of their career at UPS, Captains earn around $59 an hour. As they accumulate flight hours for UPS, this rate increases substantially. By the decade mark of their career, they get a big bump in pay proof that salaries can really add up over time at UPS.

As a pilot moves from Officer to Captain each year, there’s an expectation of progressive pay increases based on experience levels and contributions to the company.

This means those starting out or moving up the flying path get financial reward as well as job satisfaction – making it attractive for new talent as well as seasoned aviators looking to build a prosperous future with United Parcel Service (UPS).

Factors Affecting UPS Captain Salary information

Several things affect UPS Captain pay to ensure fair pay for each individual.

Hours flown is one of the biggest factors along with experience and skills. More experienced pilots with specialized skills will make more than those just starting out.

Type of aircraft flown is another big factor in a UPS Captain’s pay. Different aircraft models have different pay scales. For example, flying bigger or more complex aircraft will pay more because of the extra skills and responsibility.

This way pilots flying advanced aircraft get paid for their expertise. Sortie factors and responsibilities also affect UPS Captain pay to make it competitive for their role and contribution.

Now you know these you can plan your salary expectations and career path as a future UPS pilot.

Benefits Beyond Salary for UPS Captains

Sure, pay isn’t the only thing. UPS Captains get a great benefits package that adds to their overall compensation.

The company provides broad health coverage including medical, dental and vision plans for aviators so they can be covered for all their well-being needs. That’s a big benefit for choosing a pilot career with UPS.

To help our pilots achieve a better work-life balance, they get paid time off to rest and spend time with loved ones which adds value to their life outside of work.

Employees have access to discounted stock purchases through the employee stock purchase plan and get to invest in the company’s continued success.

For long term financial security and stability after flying with UPS, an excellent 401(k) plan with company matching is part of these benefits.

And ‘jump seats’ opportunities that give convenient travel options for those in this field. So being a pilot with UPS is economically and satisfying overall.

How to Become a UPS Captain

To become a UPS Captain, you must meet certain requirements and follow steps. Pilots must have a Commercial Pilot Certificate with Multi-Engine and Instrument ratings and comply with FAA, TSA, DOT and FCC regulations. They must have a First-Class Medical certificate to meet health requirements.

One of the requirements is to have over 1,500 hours of flight time with at least 500 hours as Pilot in Command (PIC). To move up in the Ameriflight UPS Flight Path program, a structured route to captaincy, pilots should have at least 500 hours of flight training.

For those aspiring to be a UPS First Officer, candidates need to meet certain milestones and get recommendations throughout their training process.

The intense training helps to develop pilot skills significantly and benefits one's career trajectory. A pre-requisite to enter the UPS Flight Path program is to be a recent graduate (within 2 years) with a 3.0 GPA or current junior/senior level college student.

Being an officer to captain requires dedication but it’s worth it. The training programs are high standards and present many opportunities for growth thus careers as ups pilots are highly coveted.

UPS Fleet and Aircraft Types

The UPS fleet has nearly 300 aircraft all of which are heavy duty. The A300 and MD-11 are part of the fleet. Pilots must get type rated for these transport category aircraft and that requires a lot of training including simulator time.

These strict training protocols are in place so pilots can handle the differences between aircraft types.

Through the UPS Flight Path program, the different stages of pilot development are outlined. This allows pilots to gain flight experience before going to a dedicated flight school and to master the UPS fleet.

This fleet and pilot preparation is what sets United Parcel Service apart from the competition. The result is efficient UPS cargo delivery and a fun work environment for pilots flying in the UPS system.

UPS Pilot Hubs and Bases

UPS pilots are all over the world. At the center of UPS Airlines operations is Worldport at Louisville International Airport in Kentucky which is the global hub for a large portion of UPS’s global cargo activity. If you want to know where UPS locations are, they have a big presence in Louisville.

Other major US hubs are in Philadelphia, Dallas, Ontario and Rockford and additional US pilot bases are in Miami, San Bernardino, Columbia, Chicago-Rockford and other locations. Internationally Cologne Germany, Shanghai China and Hong Kong are key centers.

The locations of these hubs allow us to get packages to you faster anywhere. The many work environments offer more opportunities to work within the company.

Job Security and Career Growth for UPS Captains

A UPS pilot job has job security because of the company’s presence in the logistics industry.

There’s plenty of career progression opportunities within UPS Airlines to move from First Officer to Captain and beyond. UPS pilot career development and training is part of UPS’s DNA.

Additionally, being part of an independent pilot's association provides further job security, as it advocates for fair working conditions, wages, and professional growth for pilots.

UPS values its airline pilots highly as an airline transport pilot in global operations and future growth. This means pilots have a clear career path and can achieve long term success within the company.

Job security, career growth and professional development makes a UPS pilot job great. Pilots can expect a stable and rewarding career with lots of opportunities to progress.

Application Process for UPS Pilots

The UPS pilot application process aims to identify the best candidates. Candidates can learn more about UPS pilot hiring on the UPS jobs website and sign up for alerts if no pilot jobs are posted.

The process typically involves a phone screening followed by interviews, which may be conducted virtually via Zoom and include retired UPS pilots and HR personnel.

Prospective pilots should prepare by studying common interview questions and tasks relevant to their background.

After passing the Hogan assessment, candidates receive email notifications during the interview process. This thorough hiring process ensures only the most qualified and prepared candidates join the UPS pilot team.

The structured application process reflects UPS’s commitment to high operational standards. By selecting the best candidates, UPS ensures its pilots are well-equipped to meet job demands.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a UPS Captain in 2025?

The average salary for a UPS Captain in 2025 is projected to be approximately $310,000 per year.

What benefits do UPS Captains receive beyond their salary?

Captains get health benefits (medical, dental, vision) paid vacation and reduced-price employee stock purchase program and company matched 401K contributions. All these add to the total compensation package.

How can I become a UPS Captain?

You must have a Commercial Pilot Certificate with Multi-Engine and Instrument ratings, 1,500 hours of flight time and complete the UPS Flight Path program.

Where are the major UPS pilot hubs located?

Main hubs are in Louisville, KY (Worldport), Philadelphia, Dallas and Ontario and international hubs in Cologne, Shanghai and Hong Kong. These hubs feed the global logistics and transportation machine.

What is the application process for becoming a UPS pilot?

To become a UPS pilot, you must complete a phone screening, participate in virtual interviews, and pass the Hogan assessment.

You can find more details and apply through the UPS jobs website.