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Job outlook for aircraft pilots in the United States
Are aircraft pilot jobs in demand?
Yes, aircraft pilot jobs are in demand. Aircraft pilot demand is projected to grow 6% from 2018 to 2028.
Aircraft pilot job and salary trends over time
Compare the number of aircraft pilot jobs and the average aircraft pilot salary over time.
Aircraft pilot jobs over time
Aircraft pilot job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 402 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 349 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 356 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 356 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 362 | 0.00% |
Average aircraft pilot salary over time
Aircraft pilot salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $94,207 | $45.29 | +8.4% |
| 2025 | $86,917 | $41.79 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | $83,040 | $39.92 | +4.4% |
| 2023 | $79,506 | $38.22 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $77,951 | $37.48 | +1.4% |
Aircraft pilot jobs by state
The map below shows you the number of aircraft pilot job openings in each state. The darker areas on the map show where aircraft pilots earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
Average salary: Job openings:
Most common states for aircraft pilots
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | 739,795 | 47 | 6% |
| 2 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 34 | 5% |
| 3 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 33 | 4% |
| 4 | Vermont | 623,657 | 25 | 4% |
| 5 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 24 | 4% |
| 6 | Nevada | 2,998,039 | 81 | 3% |
| 7 | Hawaii | 1,427,538 | 38 | 3% |
| 8 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 35 | 3% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 30 | 3% |
| 10 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 117 | 2% |
| 11 | Louisiana | 4,684,333 | 74 | 2% |
| 12 | Oklahoma | 3,930,864 | 63 | 2% |
| 13 | Kansas | 2,913,123 | 50 | 2% |
| 14 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 50 | 2% |
| 15 | Mississippi | 2,984,100 | 50 | 2% |
| 16 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 42 | 2% |
| 17 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 32 | 2% |
| 18 | West Virginia | 1,815,857 | 28 | 2% |
| 19 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 26 | 2% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 24 | 2% |
Most common cities for aircraft pilots
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mountain View | 1 | 1% | $115,405 |
| 2 | Sacramento | 1 | 0% | $113,963 |