Compensation and benefits
Southwest Airlines Compensation and benefits decreased by 2.5% to $3.30B in Q1 2026 compared to the prior quarter. Year-over-year, this metric grew by 6.3%, from $3.10B to $3.30B. Over 4 years (FY 2021 to FY 2025), Compensation and benefits shows an upward trend with a 13.7% CAGR. This increase may warrant attention — for this metric, lower values are generally preferred.
Analysis
How to read this metric
An increase often reflects headcount growth or higher performance-based incentives, while a decrease may indicate efficiency initiatives or workforce reductions.
Detailed definition
Includes all salaries, wages, bonuses, stock-based compensation, and employee benefit costs for the workforce. This is t...
Peer comparison
Highly comparable across all sectors; usually found under 'Personnel' or 'Staffing' expenses.
compensation_and_benefitsHistorical Data
| Q2 '21 | Q3 '21 | Q4 '21 | Q1 '22 | Q2 '22 | Q3 '22 | Q4 '22 | Q1 '23 | Q2 '23 | Q3 '23 | Q4 '23 | Q1 '24 | Q2 '24 | Q3 '24 | Q4 '24 | Q1 '25 | Q2 '25 | Q3 '25 | Q4 '25 | Q1 '26 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | $1.83B | $2.12B | $2.23B | $2.23B | $2.22B | $2.32B | $2.61B | $2.48B | $2.79B | $2.73B | $3.16B | $2.94B | $3.00B | $3.07B | $3.23B | $3.10B | $3.26B | $3.22B | $3.38B | $3.30B |
| QoQ Change | — | +16.3% | +4.9% | +0.2% | -0.4% | +4.6% | +12.2% | -4.9% | +12.4% | -2.1% | +15.9% | -7.0% | +2.0% | +2.4% | +5.2% | -4.0% | +5.2% | -1.3% | +5.0% | -2.5% |
| YoY Change | — | — | — | — | +21.6% | +9.4% | +17.1% | +11.2% | +25.5% | +17.5% | +21.3% | +18.6% | +7.6% | +12.5% | +2.2% | +5.5% | +8.8% | +4.9% | +4.6% | +6.3% |
Compensation and benefits at Other Companies
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Southwest Airlines's compensation and benefits?
- Southwest Airlines (LUV) reported compensation and benefits of $3.30B in Q1 2026.
- How has Southwest Airlines's compensation and benefits changed year-over-year?
- Southwest Airlines's compensation and benefits increased by 6.3% year-over-year, from $3.10B to $3.30B.
- What is the long-term trend for Southwest Airlines's compensation and benefits?
- Over 4 years (2021 to 2025), Southwest Airlines's compensation and benefits has grown at a 13.7% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), from $7.74B to $12.96B.
- What does compensation and benefits mean?
- The total cost of employee salaries, bonuses, and benefits.