Piedmont pilots are among the highest-paid pilots in the regional aviation industry, with First Officers starting at $90 per hourand Captains at$146 per hourduring the first year. Additionally, as part of an unprecedented recruitment and retention plan, pilots canearn up to $187,000 in bonuses.
Looking to take advantage of distressed carrier employment relief for ExpressJet pilots? Contact Piedmont through AirlineApps.com or email Tyler.Tenbrink@aa.com.
Looking to start your pilot career? Join Piedmont’s Cadet Program, receive a $30,000 bonus and board the fastest path to American Airlines. Build hours how you want and where you want.
Paths to the Flight Deck
Apply as a Direct Entry Captain
Join Piedmont as a Direct Entry Captain and maximize your career earnings. Bring your longevity from your current airline to earn even more. You’ll go straight to upgrade training so you can enjoy the view from the left seat and be one of the highest paid pilots in the regional industry. Looking to take advantage of distressed carrier employment relief for ExpressJet pilots? Contact Piedmont through AirlineApps.com or email Tyler.Tenbrink@aa.com.
New Captain Pay Scale
- $146.25 year one
- $150 year two
- $153.75 year three
- $157.50 year four
- $161.25 year five
- $213.75 top of scale
Captains flow to mainline after 5 years of service or be paid top of scale until they flow. Direct entry captains can bring their longevity and start on steps 2 through 11.
Bonus Structure
- $15,000 sign on
- $15,000 for Direct Entry Captains
- $7,500 E145 type rating bonus
- $15,000 after 12 months of active service
- $30,000 Captain upgrade bonus
- $40,000 Captain upgrade + 1 year bonus
- $40,000 Captain upgrade + 2 year bonus
- $25,000 flow to American bonus
Read more: Direct Entry Captain FAQs
Minimum Qualifications
- 2,500 hours of total flight time/ 950 hours of qualifying Part 121/135
- Commercial Multi-engine certificate with an instrument rating, and an English Proficient Endorsement
- Valid United States passport or a valid passport with authorization to work in the United States
- FCC Radiotelephone Operator Permit
- Current First Class Medical Certificate
- Possess a high school diploma or GED
Meet a Direct Entry Captain at Piedmont
Five reasons pilots change airlines
Learn More Apply now
Apply as First Officer
Start your journey toward American while enjoying the best benefits package in the industry.
New pilots train to proficiency and the standard at the American Airlines Training Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. You’ll get time with instructors who care about your progress. When it’s time to upgrade, you’ll have the training and confidence you need to take the left seat.
Need to talk to a recruiter? Email flyPiedmont@aa.com
New First Officer Pay Scale
- $90 year one
- $97.50 year two
- $105 year three
- $108.75 year four
Bonus Structure
- $15,000 sign on
- $15,000 after 12 months of active service
- $30,000 Captain upgrade bonus
- $40,000 Captain upgrade + 1 year bonus
- $40,000 Captain upgrade + 2 year bonus
- $25,000 flow to American bonus
Pilots may also qualify for:
- $10,000 for Near Entry Captain
- 600+ hours of qualifying Part 121 time
- Experience at other airlines increases your starting pay at Piedmont
- $7,500 E145 type rating bonus
Minimum Qualifications
- Meets minimum requirements to hold an ATP or RATP with a multi engine rating
- 1,500 hours of flight time, 50 hours of multi-engine time, 250 hours as Pilot in Command or meet requirements for Restricted ATP
- Valid United States passport or a valid passport with authorization to work in the United States
- FCC Radiotelephone Operator Permit
- Current First Class Medical Certificate
- Possess a high school diploma or GED
Preferred Qualifications:
- Current employment in a pilot position
Learn More Apply Now
Train as a Cadet
Receive financial support while building time. Pilots with 500 hours Total Time are eligible for Piedmont’s flexible cadet program. Cadets do not have to be affiliated with a partner school, and may build hours where and how they choose. Cadets will receive $30,000 in their Cadet contract to help build flight hours and free ATP/CTP to make the transition to first officer.
Succeed in the Piedmont cadet program and you are well on your way to a seat at American Airlines.
Read more about our new cadet incentives.
Learn More
Transition from Military
Let Piedmont help you make the transition to a rewarding civilian career. We’ll help you complete the training you need to fly for Piedmont and American Airlines.
Learn More
Piedmont offers the Fastest Path to American Airlines
Pilots awarded a position with Piedmont Airlines are guaranteed the fastest path to American Airlines under a contractual “flow” program with enhanced quality of life benefits, including:
- Compensating First Officers as Captains after accumulating 750 flight hours
- Minimum of 4 hours of flight pay for each day(s) of the assignment
- Commuting pilots in non-hub locations will receive four hotel nights per month
- 150% of the pilot’s hourly rate for Holiday pay
- More days off and additional enhancements to bid schedules
- Contact a Recruiter
A Bonus Structure to Secure Your Future
Pilots who choose to join Piedmont Airlines’ exceptional aviation team can earn over $180,000 in bonuses as part of an unprecedented recruitment and retention package.
- Learn More
Earn your Stripes Quickly
At Piedmont, you may start as a first officer, but that doesn’t mean you’ll stay in the right seat longer than you need to. Before your guaranteed job at American, Piedmont pilots have the opportunity to become captains in 12-15 months, which increases your pay. It’s even sooner for pilots with Part 121 experience.
Pay & Benefits
First Officer Compensation
$90/hour (with Pilot supportability premium)
First year pay for First Officers
75 hours/month
Guaranteed
Upgrade to Captain
$146.25/hour (with Pilot supportability premium)
Year one Captain
$150/hour (with Pilot supportability premium)
Year two Captain
- After 2,500 total hours and 1,000 Part 121 hours, bid for captain
Time off
11 days off per month guaranteed minimum, 65% of lines guarantee 12 days off
4 hour min day
100 percent trip cancellation and dead head pay
42 hours paid sick leave per year
5 paid vacation days in your first year
6 paid holidays
10 paid vacation days in your second year
Travel for Free
Ready to explore the world? You, your immediate family and your friends can reach 365 destinations on more than 6,800 daily flights across the American Airlines global network.
Insurance and Retirement
High quality affordable health insurance is best in the industry
PPO covers doctor visits, hospitalization, prescriptions and vision
Dental coverage includes no-cost preventative care
Life and disability insurance provided at no cost to you
401(k) plan through Fidelity, with a company match
Additional Benefits
Training at the American Airlines Training Center in CLT
Captains flow to American in 5 years or go to top of scale pay until they flow
Generous new commuter policy
Long call reserve – 12 hours to report
Bid on crew base assignments based on vacancies and seniority
Hub bases: Philadelphia (PHL), Harrisburg (MDT), and Charlotte (CLT)
Industry Leading Pay
| |||
DOS | DOS+1 | DOS+2 (Through Aug 31, 2024) | |
1 | $90.00 | $93.00 | $96.00 |
2 | $97.50 | $100.50 | $103.50 |
3 | $105.00 | $108.00 | $111.00 |
4 | $108.75 | $111.75 | $114.75 |
5 | $108.75 | $111.75 | $114.75 |
| |||
DOS | DOS+1 | DOS+2 (Through Aug 31, 2024) | |
1 | $146.25 | $150.00 | $153.75 |
2 | $150.00 | $153.75 | $157.50 |
3 | $153.75 | $157.50 | $161.25 |
4 | $157.50 | $161.25 | $165.00 |
5 | $161.25 | $165.00 | $168.75 |
6 | $165.00 | $168.75 | $172.50 |
7 | $168.75 | $172.50 | $176.25 |
8 | $172.50 | $176.25 | $180.00 |
9 | $176.25 | $180.00 | $183.75 |
10 | $180.00 | $183.75 | $187.50 |
11 | $183.75 | $187.50 | $191.25 |
12 | $187.50 | $191.25 | $195.00 |
13 | $191.25 | $195.00 | $198.75 |
14 | $195.00 | $198.75 | $202.50 |
15 | $198.75 | $202.50 | $206.25 |
16 | $202.50 | $206.25 | $210.00 |
17 | $206.25 | $210.00 | $213.75 |
18 | $210.00 | $213.75 | $217.50 |
19 | $213.75 | $217.50 | $221.25 |
20 | $213.75 | $217.50 | $221.25 |
Crew Bases
Charlotte, NC
Two hours from the mountains, three to the coast, Charlotte has it all. Hiking, biking, rafting and the mild year-round climate to enjoy it. Fly Embraer jets from CLT, American’s largest East Coast hub, and build your career in a vibrant city that’s growing but still small enough to retain its Southern charm that always says hello.
Philadelphia, PA
Piedmont’s prime location and growing Philadelphia hub offer pilots another great situation. You’ll challenge your skills with East Coast takeoffs and landings. You’ll live where everything’s within reach. Operate within easy distance of all that makes the East great – dynamic cities, rich culture, live sports, top dining, the beach and mighty Atlantic. Position your career, your life – in the center of it all.
Harrisburg, PA
US News and World Report ranked Harrisburg, the state capitol of Pennsylvania, as the #1 Best Place to Live in Pennsylvania. Located along the banks of the Susquehanna River, Harrisburg is an eclectic mix of wilderness and city life, as well as the old and the new, making it a perfect destinationfor your pilot career. From hiking trails and outdoor recreational activities for the outdoor enthusiast to living within a few hours’ drive from major cities like New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Harrisburg has something for everyone.
Learn More
Questions? We’d love to hear from you. Contact a recruiter to learn more about the application process and get a personal guide to joining the Piedmont team. Or visit us at any of our upcoming recruiting events to meet members of our team.
Upcoming Events
Event: DEC Info Session
November 15 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Event: DEC Info Session
November 21 @ 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Event: DEC Info Session
December 1 @ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
More Events