Frontier pilot pay ranges from $90,000 to $172,090 for first officers and from $182,484 to $259,267 for captains (estimated annual earnings based on monthly credit hours, from a 75-hour reserve guarantee in Year 1 to an 80-hour lineholder average in Year 12).
Frontier pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), still fly under their 2019 contract. Negotiations for a new agreement began in July 2023 and have continued under federal mediation since January 2024.
In October 2024, pilots voted 99% in favor of authorizing a strike, with 97% participating. The vote gave the union added leverage, although its goal remained to reach a fair agreement, not to strike.
According to ALPA, pilots need a market-based contract that aligns with industry standards. The union points to recent agreements at Alaska, Delta, United, and Hawaiian that set a higher industry pattern.
| Contract Snapshot | |
|---|---|
| Current Status | In negotiations |
| Ratification date | January 10, 2019 |
| Last pay raise | March 2, 2023 |
| Amendable date | January 16, 2024 |
Frontier Airlines Overview
Frontier Airlines is an American ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) operating flights across the U.S., Mexico, and the Caribbean. Spirit Airlines’ May 2026 shutdown removed its closest rival, and Frontier has since claimed the title of America’s largest budget carrier.
- Founded: February 1994
- Commenced operations: July 1994
- Headquarters: Denver, Colorado
- IATA: F9 | ICAO: FFT | Callsign: Frontier
- Destinations: ~90
- Fleet size: 167 (142 on order)
- Number of pilots: ~2,300
- Pilot union: Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA)
Frontier Pilot Pay Scale
Frontier’s pay scale has remained stagnant since 2023, yet it still held the pay edge over Allegiant until the tables turned in 2026.
Frontier now trails Allegiant pilot pay by an average of $30 an hour for first officers and $40 an hour for captains beyond Year 1. The gap will widen as Allegiant’s annual increases kick in over the next couple of years.
Unlike other airlines, where aircraft type affects pay, Frontier uses the same pay scale across its A320 variants.
First Officer Pay Scale
In 2026, Frontier first officers start at an hourly rate of $100 in Year 1, topping out at $179.26 in Year 12.
| Year | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| 1 | $100.00 |
| 2 | $118.74 |
| 3 | $127.55 |
| 4 | $134.77 |
| 5 | $142.97 |
| 6 | $148.88 |
| 7 | $155.68 |
| 8 | $160.34 |
| 9 | $166.81 |
| 10 | $170.96 |
| 11 | $175.11 |
| 12 | $179.26 |
First Officer Annual Pay
2026 annual pay estimates for Frontier first officers (using a 75-hour reserve guarantee for Year 1 and an 80-hour lineholder average thereafter):
- Year 1: $90,000
- Year 2: $113,990
- Year 3: $122,448
- Year 6: $142,925
- Year 12: $172,090
Captain Pay Scale
In 2026, Frontier captains start at an hourly rate of $202.67 in Year 1, maxing out at $270.07 in Year 12.
| Year | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|
| 1 | $202.76 |
| 2 | $219.47 |
| 3 | $222.88 |
| 4 | $227.43 |
| 5 | $229.70 |
| 6 | $231.98 |
| 7 | $235.57 |
| 8 | $242.59 |
| 9 | $248.64 |
| 10 | $254.87 |
| 11 | $259.94 |
| 12 | $270.07 |
Captain Annual Pay
2026 annual pay estimates for Frontier captains (using a 75-hour reserve guarantee for Year 1 and an 80-hour lineholder average thereafter):
- Year 1: $182,484
- Year 2: $210,691
- Year 3: $213,965
- Year 6: $222,701
- Year 12: $259,267
Frontier Pilot Salary Calculator
* 125% pay for credit hours over 82.5
Pay Breakdown
Beyond hourly rates, guarantees, rigs, and other pay elements shape a Frontier pilot’s paycheck.
Minimums & Rigs
- Minimum Monthly Guarantee: 75 hours for both line holders and reserve pilots
- Minimum Days Off: 12 days per month for both line holders and reserves
- Duty Period Minimum: 5 hours
- Trip Rig: 1:3.5 (1 hour of pay for every 3.5 hours away from base)
- Duty Rig: minimum pay guarantees apply to certain duty periods
Premium Pay
- Overtime Pay: 125% for hours credited above 82.5 per month
- Open Time Pickups: 150% for pickups from the Premium Add Folder
- Premium Reserve Days: at least 4 hours credited toward monthly guarantee, plus any extra pay earned above that amount
Deadhead & Per Diem
- Deadhead: 1:1 (100% pay)
- Per Diem: $2.15 per hour away from base
Training Pay
Frontier pays the monthly guarantee from day one of training at the first-year’s hourly rate. The airline provides single-occupancy hotel accommodations during initial training.
- Training Cost Repayment Agreement (TCRA): As of May 1, 2024, new hires must commit to a two-year tenure. Pilots who leave the airline within their first two years must repay a prorated portion of their training costs, estimated at $59,190.
Benefits
Frontier’s real selling point is the upgrade time.
New hires can become captains in as little as 2-3 years.
The ULCC has also shifted toward more out-and-back trips, so pilots are often home the same day instead of away on a multi-day trip.
Healthcare
Frontier offers comprehensive healthcare benefits through Cigna, with three plan options:
- Value High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP): lowest premium, but highest deductible and out-of-pocket maximum
- Traditional PPO Plan: moderate premium, deductible, and out-of-pocket maximum
- Legacy PPO Plan (often referred to as a “Cadillac” plan): highest premium, but lowest deductible and out-of-pocket maximum
The Value HDHP is the only plan compatible with a Health Savings Account (HSA) and a Limited Purpose FSA. The Traditional and Legacy PPO plans pair only with a healthcare Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
Retirement Plan
Frontier provides a 15% direct contribution of eligible earnings to pilots’ 401(k).
Company contributions follow a 3-year graded vesting schedule:
- Year 1: 25% vested
- Year 2: 50% vested
- Year 3: 100% vested
Leaving the airline before 3 years of service forfeits the remaining unvested company funds.
Profit Sharing
Frontier Airlines currently doesn’t offer profit sharing to pilots.
Life & Disability Insurance
- Life & AD&D Insurance: base annual salary up to a maximum of $500,000
- Long-Term Disability (LTD): 60% of earnings, up to an $8,000 monthly cap
Voluntary Insurance
- Voluntary Life & AD&D: up to $500,000 or 5x base annual salary, whichever is less
- Short-Term Disability
- Accident Insurance
- Critical Illness Insurance
Vacation Time
Frontier pilots receive up to four weeks of paid vacation annually, with new hires accruing 0.577 days of vacation per pay period during their first calendar year.
| Years of Service | Annual Vacation |
|---|---|
| 1-5 | 15 days |
| 6-10 | 21 days |
| 11+ | 28 days |
Sick Leave
Pilots accrue sick leave at a rate of 1 day per month, with a maximum bank of 120 days.
Parental Leave
Maternity leave provides up to 120 unpaid days following birth, during which pilots can replace income only by using accrued sick and vacation time.
Travel Perks
- Unlimited, free space-available standby travel on Frontier for pilots and their eligible dependents
- ZED fares on partner airlines
- 28 one-way guest passes per year
Pilot Bases
As of October 2026, Frontier Airlines has 13 bases, or domiciles, stretched across the U.S. and Puerto Rico:
- ATL: Atlanta, GA
- CLE: Cleveland, OH
- CVG: Cincinnati, OH
- DEN: Denver, CO
- DFW: Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
- LAS: Las Vegas, NV
- MCO: Orlando, FL
- MIA: Miami, FL
- ORD / MDW: Chicago, IL (Co-Domicile)
- PHL / TTN: Philadelphia, PA / Trenton, NJ (Co-Domicile)
- PHX: Phoenix, AZ
- SJU: San Juan, PR
- TPA: Tampa, FL
Fleet
Frontier Airlines launched service with early-generation Boeing 737s, but gradually shifted to an all-Airbus fleet.
As of October 2026, Frontier’s fleet totals 167 aircraft with 142 on order.
| Aircraft Type | In Service | On Order |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 6 | — |
| Airbus A320neo | 72 | 6 |
| Airbus A321-200 | 21 | — |
| Airbus A321neo | 68 | 136 |
| Total | 167 | 142 |
Final Thoughts
Frontier pilots have traded below-market pay for one of the industry’s quickest routes to the left seat.
That bargain still stands. Pay has sat frozen while negotiations drag on, and a near-unanimous strike vote hasn’t changed it.
Only a ratified contract will end the trade-off.
As it stands, Frontier pilots keep climbing the seniority list quickly while their paychecks lag.
