If you’ve spent any time in a flight deck lately, you know the chatter is almost entirely about the money. For years, the fractional world—led by the behemoth that is NetJets—was seen as the "lifestyle" choice. You traded the massive Delta or United paycheck for a home-based business model where you didn't have to commute on your own dime.
But things changed. Big time.
After a massive tug-of-war between the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP) and management, a new contract went live in early 2024. Now, in 2026, we are seeing the full weight of those 52.5% cumulative raises. If you’re looking at the NetJets pilot pay scale and trying to figure out if it finally competes with the majors, the answer is... it’s complicated, but it’s closer than it has ever been.
The Reality of the New Pay Tables
Honestly, the days of NetJets pilots making 60% of what a legacy captain pulls are mostly over. Under the current 2024-2029 agreement, a senior Captain can see base wages clearing $400,000 depending on the schedule they hold.
The pay is structured around "Crew Choice" (CC) schedules. You’ve got options like the 7/7 (the gold standard for many) or the higher-utilization CC76, which basically means you’re working 76 days over a four-month period.
Here is the breakdown of how the base pay looks for a Captain in 2026 on the most common rotations:
👉 See also: White Monster Energy Lawsuits: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
- The 7/7 Schedule (CC60): This is the baseline. A Year 1 Captain starts around $115,000 to $120,000 in base pay, but by Year 15, you’re looking at roughly $220,000+.
- The 8/6 Schedule: If you’re willing to work more, the company pays. A Year 15 Captain here is pushing $250,000 in base alone.
- The High-Intensity CC76: This is where the numbers get wild. Senior Captains on this schedule have base pays that can exceed $300,000 before a single hour of overtime or per diem is added.
For First Officers, the floor has been raised significantly. You’re no longer starting at "poverty wages" compared to the regionals. A Year 1 FO on a 7/7 schedule is clearing roughly $70,000 in base, but that’s a bit deceptive. Why? Because nobody at NetJets just makes their base pay.
It’s All About the "Soft Pay" and FDP
The secret sauce to the NetJets pilot pay scale isn’t the number on the salary table. It’s the Flight & Duty Pay (FDP).
NetJets pays you for the work you actually do. If you fly more than 10 block hours in a single tour, you start racking up extra cash. In 2026, this rate has climbed to approximately $152-$155 per block hour depending on the exact year of the contract.
I’ve talked to Year 2 First Officers who grossed $187,000 last year.
How?
They didn't just sit in the hotel. They worked 5 or 6 "extended days" (working into their time off) and hovered around 500 hours of flying for the year.
"I'll gross about $255k this year as a Year 3 Super Mid Captain," one pilot told me recently. "That includes 12 extended days and my 401k match. It’s a grind, but the money is finally real."
Comparing NetJets to the Major Airlines
Let's be real for a second. If you go to Delta or American, you’re eventually going to make more money. A senior 777 Captain at a legacy carrier can clear $500k-$600k if they play the system. NetJets isn't quite there for the top 1%.
However, the union (NJASAP) points out that for "Large Cabin" Captains—those flying the Globals and Challengers—the pay gap has shrunk to about 4-5%. For the "Small Cabin" guys (Phenom 300, etc.), the gap is wider, maybe 17%, but the "Class 5" base pay is actually forecast to beat some mainline averages by 2028.
Why Pilots Choose NetJets Anyway
- The Home-Based Business: You don't live in a "base." You live where you want. NetJets airlines you to the jet on day one of your tour. That’s worth $30k-$50k a year to most people in "invisible" savings and quality of life.
- Health Insurance: This is huge. NetJets still offers a $0 premium healthcare plan for families. In an era where everyone is getting squeezed by deductibles, this is a massive hidden addition to your "effective" pay.
- The 401k: They do a 50% match on the first 15% of your contribution. If you’re maxing it out, the company is throwing in a ton of cash.
The "Day in the Life" Factor
The pay scale looks great on paper, but you have to earn it. Unlike the airlines where you fly from Hub A to Hub B and go to a Marriott, a NetJets pilot might fly four legs in a day.
You’re the one loading the bags.
You’re the one checking the catering.
You’re the one dealing with the owner who is annoyed that the Wi-Fi is slow.
🔗 Read more: Why Every High-End Eatery Needs a Purse Holder Stand for Restaurant Use Right Now
It is "service-oriented" flying. Your duty days often stretch to 12 or 14 hours. The new contract improved the rest rules, but it’s still more physically demanding than flying a bus from New York to London.
Moving Forward: What You Should Do
If you are currently at a regional or looking to leave a Part 135 charter outfit, NetJets is no longer a "side quest." It is a career destination. To maximize your earnings on the NetJets pilot pay scale, you need to be strategic about your bid.
First, look at the Crew Choice schedules. If you are young and want to bank cash, the CC72 or CC76 schedules will put you on the fast track to a $200k+ income much sooner than the 7/7.
Second, don't ignore the extended day opportunities. Most pilots find that working just 10-12 extra days a year can add $25,000 to $40,000 to their gross income because of how the daily rates and overtime multipliers stack.
Finally, keep an eye on the Fleet Upgrades. Upgrades to Captain have stabilized around the 2.5 to 3-year mark lately. If you get into a "junior" fleet like the Phenom, you might hit that Captain pay scale faster, even if the hourly rate is slightly lower than the big iron.
NetJets has spent $1.6 billion on this new contract to keep its pilots from running to United. For the first time in a decade, that plan actually seems to be working.
Actionable Insight: Check your "Total Compensation" rather than just base pay. When you add the $0 premium healthcare, the 401k match, and the FDP, a $150k base at NetJets often feels like $200k at a traditional carrier where you’re paying for your own health insurance and commuting.