Home ---> North America (Major/National/Low Cost) ---> USA ---> Southwest Airlines

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Operator Classification
Operator name: Southwest Airlines
Operator type: Major/National/Low Cost
Region: North America
Country: USA
 
Pilots' Detailed Payscale - please state whether payscale is before or after tax
(pension, per diems and brief payscale are listed further down the page)
Effective from: June 2025
Listed pay rates are:
(yearly, hourly etc)
 hourly
Currency: US$
Guaranteed hours:
(if applicable)
 78hrs/month
(click here to use the currency converter)  
Addtional notes:    
 
Submit new detailed payscale (clears all the cells for you before you put the new information in).
Edit the detailed payscale currently listed below (keeps all the current information in the cells and allows you to edit it).
Leave detailed payscale unchanged.
Fleet
 B737B737
Rank
 CAPTFO
Year
  
12
364
255
11
361
253
10
358
251
9
356
249
8
353
243
7
350
238
6
347
236
5
345
231
4
342
225
3
339
220
2
337
185
1
334
133
Brief Payscale (please state whether before or after tax) (please ignore if the detailed payscale above is up to date)

last update
Capt top $364,000
20/Jun/25
Capt base $334,000
20/Jun/25
FO top $255,000 20/Jun/25
FO base $133,000 20/Jun/25
SO top
SO base
FE top
FE base
   
Flight Pay / Per Diem
last update
Capt CONUS $2.90 OCONUS: $3.45 Per diem rates increase 2.5% each January 1.
20/Jun/25
FO CONUS $2.90 OCONUS: $3.45 Per diem rates increase 2.5% each January 1.
20/Jun/25
SO
FE
   
Pension Details
last update
401K Matching: No A/B Fund: B fund: 17% through Dec 31, 2025 18% from January 1, 2026 MBCBP: Effective date Percent of Pilot's retirement eligible wages contributed to MCBCP 1/1/2024: 1% 1/1/2026: 2% Other: 12.2% profit sharing  
20/Jun/25
   
Conditions
last update
Roster
Leave
Staff travel
Discounted
holidays
 
Employment Situation For Pilots
last update
  Current Situation:  
Not hiring 20/Jun/25
   
  Outlook:  
Scheduled pay increases January 1,2025 4% January 1,2026 4% January 1,2027 4% January 1, 2028 3.25% 20/Jun/25
     
  Overall Situation (+ve/neutral/-ve):  
Neutral   20/Jun/25
   
Entry Requirements
last update
  Captain  
To become a Captain (CPT) at Southwest, you also need to be at least 23 years old and hold the same FAA certificates and medical requirements as a FO, but you should have around 2,500 total flight hours or 1,500 hours in turbine aircraft, including 1,000 hours as Pilot in Command (PIC). PIC time means being the official aircraft commander. Like FOs, Captains must be authorized to work in the U.S., proficient in English, physically able, and pass drug screenings. Both positions often come through Southwest’s Destination 225° Program, which provides a pathway from zero experience to airline pilot in about four years. 20/Jun/25
     
  FO  
To become a First Officer (FO) at Southwest Airlines, you must be at least 23 years old and hold a U.S. FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate with "Airplane Multiengine Land" ratings and an "English Proficient" limitation, along with a First Class Medical Certificate and FCC Radiotelephone Operator Permit. Preferred flight experience includes 500 hours in a fixed-wing turbine aircraft or completion of the Destination 225° program, with active flying in two of the last five years. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S., able to communicate fluently in English, able to lift 40 lbs., and pass FAA drug tests. 20/Jun/25
     
  SO  
     
  FE  
     
  Scholorship  
 
   
Recruitment Process
last update
     
Fleet
last update
  Current:  
737-700: 385 737-8: 227 737-800: 207 20/Jun/25
     
  Orders:  
36x 737-700 in 2006   24/Aug/05
 
Recruitment Contact For Pilots
last update
  Preferred method of application:  
     
  Name:    
 
  Job Title:  
 
  Address:    
 
       
Tel:
Fax:
Email:
       
  Website:   
www.southwest.com   30/Dec/04
  Pilot vacancies webpage:   
www.southwest.com/careers/pilots.html   30/Dec/04
  Online application form link:   
 
     
Bases For Pilots
last update
BWI, DAL, HOU, MCO, MDW, OAK, PHX   24/Aug/05

 

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