I’ve been looking into how much the pay gap between airline mechanics and pilots has grown since 2019/2020, specifically at the Big 4 (Southwest, Delta, American, and United).
I’m not saying mechanics should make the same as pilots. They’re different jobs with different responsibilities. But I think we need to start looking at how much further ahead pilots have gotten, not just in wages but in retirement and benefits.
Back in 2019/2020, narrowbody captains at the majors were averaging around $280/hr. Today that number is closer to $390/hr, roughly a 40% increase.
Meanwhile, top-out mechanics at the Big 4 are generally making around $65–70/hr with applicable premiums.
If pilots were making roughly 3 times what mechanics made in 2020 and that gap has grown to 4 times today, mechanics would need a 33.3% raise just to restore the same pay ratio. That’s not even closing the original gap, just getting back to where we were.
And that’s only looking at wages.
Look at retirement benefits. Some major airline pilot contracts provide employer non-elective 401(k) contributions around 17–18%. That’s money the company contributes regardless of whether the pilot puts anything in. Compare that to what most mechanics receive.
On a $200,000 salary, an 18% NEC is $36,000 a year going into retirement without the employee contributing a dime, subject to IRS limits. That’s a massive benefit on top of their already higher salaries.
Then there’s scheduling, vacation, disability coverage, work rules, and other contractual protections. The exact benefits vary by airline, but I think we should be looking at the entire compensation package instead of just focusing on hourly wages.
Why aren’t we pushing for similar retirement contributions and stronger benefits in our own negotiations?
I’m not against pilots getting what they’ve negotiated. Good for them. Their unions have done a great job securing those contracts. But why shouldn’t mechanics be fighting for the same level of improvements?
We’re the ones inspecting, troubleshooting, repairing, and signing off these aircraft. We carry enormous responsibility, work nights, weekends, and holidays, and deal with the physical wear and tear that comes with this career.
Here are some references:
2019 ALPA pilot contract comparison:
https://www.alpa.org/wja/-/media/ALA/files/pdf/Contract-Comparison-2019.pdf
Delta ALPA pilot contract comparisons:
https://dal.alpa.org/
AMT pay and contract comparisons:
https://amtindex.com/
2024 AMT wage comparison:
https://www.altaunited.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/DL-2024-AMT-Wage-Comparison.pdf
The 3x to 4x comparison still needs to be verified using consistent annual hours and historical rates. Pilot retirement contributions also vary by carrier and contract.
But I think the bigger point stands. We need to stop looking at a few dollars an hour as a huge win while other workgroups are negotiating major increases in wages, retirement, and benefits.
Personally, I’d like to see mechanics pushing for a substantial wage adjustment to restore our historical pay relationship, an 18% employer NEC to our 401(k), and improvements to our other benefits.
What would it take for AMTs at the Big 4 to negotiate something comparable? And why aren’t we demanding more of the benefits pilots have already secured?

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