Delta Air Lines Careers: Learn How to Apply

Delta Air Lines offers various career opportunities, ranking as the second-largest airline globally in terms of fleet size and passenger numbers. 

This guide details Delta careers, outlining essential aspects such as pay, benefits, and internships for students interested in the airline industry.

What Is The Delta Air Lines?

Delta Air Lines originated in 1925 as Huff Daland Dusters, a crop-dusting operation. In 1928, C.E. Woolman transformed it into Delta Air Service, and by 1945, it was rebranded to Delta Air Lines, logging over 300 million passenger miles. 

Since the 1950s, Delta expanded internationally and merged with other airlines. Now, it runs over 4,000 daily flights to 275+ destinations, employing 90,000 and serving 200 million passengers yearly.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Delta was recognized as North America’s most punctual airline in 2022, committed to connecting people with places and experiences.

New Graduate and Student Opportunities at Delta Air Lines 

Delta Air Lines provides an array of programs for students and graduates aiming to begin their careers. These include internships, co-ops, MBA programs, and rotational programs.

Internship Program 

Delta offers a 10-12 week summer internship that immerses interns in corporate operations. 

They work in areas such as aviation management and finance at the Atlanta headquarters. Benefits include a salary, housing stipend for out-of-state interns, and global travel privileges.

Co-Op Program 

This program features several full-time work rotations in Atlanta, suitable for students in a four-year degree program. 

Participants alternate between school and work, receive a housing stipend, and can travel extensively on their off terms.

MBA Program 

A two to three-year full-time program, aligning participants with Delta’s strategic business units, such as finance and supply chain. 

Participants receive full employment benefits and competitive pay.

Rotational Program 

Targeted at new graduates, this program offers two 18-month rotations in commercial strategy and finance, providing deep dives into these areas. 

It includes professional development, networking opportunities, and relocation assistance for those outside Georgia.

Delta Air Lines Jobs and Salaries

Delta Air Lines offers numerous job opportunities beyond the airport and flight operations. At Delta’s corporate offices, you can find roles in engineering, business, IT, and finance. 

Salaries vary based on your experience, skills, and job location. Here’s an overview of what Delta pays its corporate employees in two specific areas:

Delta Engineering Jobs 

Delta’s engineering team is responsible for building and maintaining the company’s sophisticated systems. Starting salaries for these positions include:

• Software developer: $108,400
• Senior software developer: $146,100
• Software engineer: $118,200
• Senior software engineer: $155,900
• Data engineer: $117,900

Delta Analytics Jobs 

The analytics team at Delta handles data research and analysis, supporting strategic decisions. Entry-level salaries in this department are:

• Business analyst: $90,500
• Commercial strategy analyst: $113,800
• Operations analyst: $71,900
• IT business analyst: $95,000
• IT senior business analyst: $110,200
• Data scientist: $131,600

These figures reflect early-career earnings and can provide a guideline if you’re considering a position at Delta.

Delta Air Lines Offered Benefits 

Delta Air Lines offers a comprehensive benefits package to its employees. 

This includes a 401(k) plan with up to 9% matching contributions, competitive salaries, and varying paid time off—two to five weeks of vacation, alongside holidays and seven personal days. Health insurance is also provided.

Delta extends several additional benefits:

• Travel Perks: Employees and their eligible relatives enjoy standby travel on domestic and international Delta flights. They also benefit from over 500 travel-related discounts, such as lower rates on car and hotel rentals and reduced fares with other airlines.
• Parental Benefits: Delta provides up to 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave for birthing parents. Non-birthing, adoptive, or surrogate parents receive two weeks of paid leave.
• Well-being Benefits: An employee assistance program, financial coaching, and mental health support are available. Delta also subsidizes backup dependent care for up to 25 days.

Employee feedback on Delta’s benefits is positive. On Glassdoor, benefits receive a rating of 4.3 out of 5, with high marks for stock options, the 401(k) plan, remote work options, and discounts. 

On Comparably, Delta’s perks score 77 out of 100, a B+ grade, with 75% of employees expressing satisfaction with their benefits.

What is the Culture of Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines fosters a company culture dedicated to supporting the communities in its environment. This commitment stems from its fundamental values: honesty, integrity, respect, perseverance, and servant leadership. 

Delta has received several recognitions, such as being named among Fortune World’s Most Admired Companies and Glassdoor’s Best Places to Work in 2022.

Delta is actively involved in various initiatives:

Diversity and Inclusion 

Delta promotes diversity with 10 Business Resource Groups engaging over 30,000 employees. The company prioritizes a skills-first hiring approach, emphasizing the importance of practical skills and experience over formal education. 

Efforts are ongoing to enhance workforce diversity with clear, ongoing updates on progress.

Sustainability 

Delta is transitioning to more sustainable practices. It aims to substitute 10% of its jet fuel with sustainable alternatives by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. 

Recent steps include retiring 200 aircraft for more efficient ones, recycling over three million pounds of aluminum, and supporting the construction of 12 Habitat for Humanity homes.

Community Engagement 

Delta commits 1% of its yearly net profits to volunteering, building 273 homes with Habitat for Humanity and 35 playgrounds with KABOOM!, plus donating over a million pounds of food to Feeding America.

Delta scores 77/100 on Comparably’s culture rating, ranking in the top 5% for CEO rating, gender equality, and eNPS among peers, though it scores lower in office environment and professional growth.

• 91% of Delta’s workforce enjoys team interactions.
• 80% describe their working conditions as positive.
• Only 58% feel satisfied with their work-life balance.

How Does the Interview Process Work?

Start by visiting Delta’s career portal. Look for internships and university recruiting programs under specific filters. 

Always check the requirements listed for each role. Delta offers these opportunities throughout the year, so regularly check for new postings, join the Talent Community, and follow Delta on social media for updates.

The interview process at Delta might differ depending on the job you’re applying for, but it generally includes the following steps:

1. You might need to attend a virtual interview. This could be a real-time conversation via Microsoft Teams or a one-sided interaction through HireVue, where you’ll respond to set questions.
2. Review the job description and any available preview videos to familiarize yourself with it. This will help you understand the expected responsibilities and skills.
3. Reflect on your skills, experiences, and achievements that prove you’re fit for the role. Organize your responses using the STAR method during the interview.
4. Be genuine and let your true character shine through in your interactions.

Here’s how you can apply for a job at Delta Air Lines:

1. Start Your Application: Visit Delta’s career portal to create your profile. You can either upload your resume directly or connect your LinkedIn profile for faster setup.
2. Complete the Application Form: Fill in the application with basic details, describe your interest in joining Delta, and respond to job-specific questions.
3. Aptitude Test: Be prepared to take an aptitude test assessing your communication, mathematical, and social skills.
4. Interview Confirmation: If you clear the initial stages, Delta’s HR will contact you to arrange an interview. Use this opportunity to discuss your professional journey and ask role-specific questions.
5. Onboarding: Successfully navigating through these stages will lead to a job offer, followed by the onboarding process.

Post-Application Steps

After you submit your application, the response time can vary. For roles like cabin crew, ensure you have your current passport or similar documents ready for the interview, which helps verify your identity. 

Additionally, a fingerprint-based criminal background check will be conducted for security purposes.

Final Thoughts

Best of luck as you apply for a position at Delta Airlines. This article highlights that securing employment with Delta requires significant effort and readiness. 

Start by crafting a solid application that showcases your experiences and career goals. Yet, extensive preparation is necessary at each phase.