Curious what your Allegiant pilot salary might look like? You’re in for a surprise.
A first officer makes just $57.67 an hour in their first year at the airline, which is the lowest starting rate among U.S. low-cost carriers.
The good news? It nearly doubles in year two.
Allegiant first officers make as low as $48,443 in their first year and max out at $156,108 in year twelve, while captains start as low as $137,164 and top out at $232,742.*
* Based on a 70-hour monthly (840-hour yearly) guarantee and a 1,000-hour FAA annual flight time limit
Contract Status
Ratification date: July 28, 2016
Amendable date: July 29, 2021
Allegiant Air pilots continue to work under their 2016 collective bargaining agreement, as talks have remained deadlocked despite years of negotiations and federal mediation.
Allegiant Air Overview
Allegiant Air is an American ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) that focuses on connecting smaller cities to popular vacation destinations. Here are some key facts about the airline:
- Founded: January 1997
- Commenced operations: June 1998
- Headquarters: Las Vegas, Nevada
- IATA: G4 — ICAO: AAY — Callsign: Allegiant
- Destination: 124
- Fleet size: 129 (38 on order)
- Average aircraft age: ~14.8 years
- Number of pilots: ~1,400
- Pilot union: International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) — Teamsters Local 2118
Allegiant Pilot Salary Calculator
The estimates exclude per diem and profit sharing, and all figures are rounded to the nearest dollar.
Allegiant Pilot Salary
Let’s break down Allegiant pilot hourly rates and annual pay estimates, and see how Allegiant pilot pay stacks up against comparable airlines.
First Officer Salary
The first-year pay as an Allegiant first officer is atrociously low. So low that it makes regional FOs seem overpaid.
Looking at comparable airlines, Frontier and Spirit pay around $35,000 more in the first year.
At the top of the pay scale? Frontier pays roughly $20,000 more, while Spirit pays about $40,000 more than Allegiant.
Based on flying the aviation industry average of 75 hours per month, here are your estimated yearly salaries at different years of service:
| Year | Annual Pay |
|---|---|
| 1 | $51,903 |
| 2 | $92,763 |
| 3 | $99,657 |
| 6 | $116,316 |
| 9 | $130,320 |
| 12 | $140,049 |
Captain Salary
Allegiant captains also make substantially less than their peers in the industry.
A Frontier captain earns about $35,000 more, and Spirit nearly $100,000. The disparity is similar at the top of the scale.
Based on a 75-hour monthly average, you can expect the following annual salary figures estimates:
| Year | Annual Pay |
|---|---|
| 1 | $137,163 |
| 2 | $146,322 |
| 3 | $153,486 |
| 6 | $165,726 |
| 9 | $177,435 |
| 12 | $208,539 |
Pay & Compensation
Let’s explore how duty rigs, premium pay, and other incentives add to your paycheck.
Guarantees & Limitations
- The minimum monthly guarantee is 70 hours for line holders and 72 for reserve pilots
- Lines are limited to 95 hours unless waived by the pilot
- Duty rig: 1:2 (1 hour of pay for every 2 hours of duty time)
- Minimum days off per month:
- Line holders: 12 days (can drop to 11 for 3 months/year)
- Reserves: 12 days (can drop to 10 for 3 months/year)
- Extended delays past 0200 on a scheduled day off earn an extra day off
Premium Pay
- Voluntary Flying Notification (VFN) trip pickups pay 200% (double pay)
- All hours above 81/month pay at 130% of the hourly rate
- Open time pickups are paid above the monthly minimum guarantee
- Overnight pays a minimum of 4 hours
Training Pay
Allegiant pays for pilot initial training from day one of ground school. You earn your first‑year rate under the standard monthly guarantee (70 hours).
The airline also provides single‑occupancy hotel accommodations throughout your training. Once you enter the simulator phase, Allegiant also covers a rental car for you and your sim partner.
Deadhead pays 50% of the normal hourly rate.
Per diem pays $2 per hour of Time Away From Base (TAFB).
Benefits
The biggest benefit of flying for Allegiant?
You’re home every night because nearly all flights are day trips that start and end at your home base.
Allegiant has a relaxed grooming policy, allowing facial hair and tattoos, which is a rarity among airlines in the United States.
Given these perks, it’s no surprise that many pilots choose lifestyle over pay and stay at Allegiant.
Healthcare
As an Allegiant Air pilot, you can choose from multiple medical, dental, vision, and prescription plans.
The airline also offers a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), medical travel reimbursement, and paid maternity and paternity leave.
Additionally, voluntary benefits include the following:
- 24/7 access to Telehealth Services
- Voluntary short-term disability
- Voluntary legal benefits
- Voluntary accident insurance
- Voluntary critical illness insurance
- Supplemental life and AD&D insurance for yourself and family members
- Identity theft protection
Vacation Time
Allegiant pilots accrue tiered vacation time based on years of service:
| Year | Vacation Time |
|---|---|
| 1 | 7 days |
| 2-4 | 14 days |
| 5-8 | 21 days |
| 9+ | 28 days |
Sick Leave
Pilots accrue sick leave at a rate of 4 hours for each month of service, up to a maximum bank of 600 hours.
Retirement Plan
Allegiant offers a 200% match up to 5% of your 401(k) contribution with immediate vesting.
Travel Perks
- Unlimited, space-available flights on Allegiant for you and your eligible dependents
- Buddy passes for your friends (for a small fee)
- Space-available flights on partner airlines (for a small fee)
Career Outlook
Allegiant will see 203 mandatory retirements between 2025 and 2035, representing 14.5% of its current pilot workforce.
The airline has three pilot pathway programs:
- Accelerate — for collegiate aviators attending a partner university
- Altitude — for aspiring pilots in partnership with McAir Aviation
- Military — for military pilots transitioning to commercial aviation
Pilot Hiring Requirements
Like other airlines, Allegiant Air sets minimum pilot hiring requirements following FAA, DOT, and TSA standards. It also lists preferred qualifications that give candidates an edge.
Minimum Qualifications
- Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently
- FAA ATP or Restricted ATP (ATP Written)
- Currency within the previous 12 Months
- FAA Class 1 flight crew medical certificate
- FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit
- Unrestricted right to live and work in the US
- 1500 hours on turbine aircraft
- 500 hours as Pilot in Command
- 1000 hours on Multi-Engine
- Valid US passport allowing unrestricted travel
- Valid Driver’s License
- 23–65 years old
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree
- 121 or military experience
- 3000 hours Total Time
- 1000 hours multi-engine turbine/jet
- 1000 hours PIC
- Basic computer skills
Pilot Bases
Your choice (or lack thereof) of base has a real impact on your lifestyle and take-home pay, due to differences in the cost of living and state taxes.
As of July 2025, Allegiant Air has 23 crew bases, or domiciles, across 15 U.S. states:
- ABE — Allentown, PA
- ATW — Appleton, WI
- AVL — Asheville, NC
- BLI — Bellingham, WA
- BNA — Nashville, TN
- CVG — Cincinnati, OH
- DSM — Des Moines, IA
- FLL — Fort Lauderdale, FL
- FNT — Flint, MI
- GRR — Grand Rapids, MI
- IND — Indianapolis, IN
- IWA — Phoenix/Mesa, AZ
- LAS — Las Vegas, NV
- LAX — Los Angeles, CA (ends September 2, 2025)
- PGD — Punta Gorda, FL
- PIE — St. Petersburg/Clearwater, FL
- PIT — Pittsburgh, PA
- PVU — Provo, UT
- SAV — Savannah, GA
- SFB — Orlando/Sanford, FL
- SRQ — Sarasota, FL
- TYS — Knoxville, TN
- VPS — Destin/Fort Walton Beach, FL
Fleet
Allegiant Air started operations with aging DC‑9s and MD‑80s, but transitioned to a modern fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft over time.
As of July 2025, Allegiant’s fleet totals 129 aircraft with 38 on order, consisting of the following types:
- 32 Airbus A319-100
- 85 Airbus A320-200
- 12 Boeing 737 MAX 200 (14 on order)
- Boeing 737 MAX 7 (24 on order)
Final Thoughts
Allegiant pilot salary remains well below the industry average. First-year FOs, in particular, barely earn a livable wage. Even senior captains lag well behind their peers at Frontier or Spirit.
However, Allegiant offers unique benefits like out-and-back flying and a relaxed grooming policy, but they come at a steep financial cost.
Are these lifestyle perks worth it? Some pilots think so, while others can’t justify the pay cut.
