Chief pilot demographics and statistics in the US
Chief pilot demographics research summary. Zippia estimates chief pilot demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our chief pilot estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about chief pilots after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 28,383 chief pilots currently employed in the United States.
- 4.4% of all chief pilots are women, while 95.6% are men.
- The average chief pilot age is 44 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of chief pilots is White (81.9%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (7.0%), Unknown (5.5%) and Asian (2.7%).
- Chief pilots are most in-demand in Las Vegas, NV.
- San Francisco, CA pays an annual average wage of $128,075, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women chief pilots earned 93% of what men earned.
- California is the best state for chief pilots to live.
- Chief pilots are 75% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.
On this page
Chief pilot demographics by:
Chief pilot gender statistics
4.4% of chief pilots are women and 95.6% of chief pilots are men.
- Male, 95.6%
- Female, 4.4%
Chief pilot gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 95.6% |
| Female | 4.4% |
Chief pilot gender pay gap
Women earn 93¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$81,503
Female income
$76,157
Chief pilot gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in chief pilot positions over time. Currently, 4.4% of chief pilots are female.
Chief pilot gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 96.50% | 3.50% |
| 2011 | 97.77% | 2.23% |
| 2012 | 95.59% | 4.41% |
| 2013 | 97.03% | 2.97% |
| 2014 | 96.61% | 3.39% |
| 2015 | 97.02% | 2.98% |
| 2016 | 95.28% | 4.72% |
| 2017 | 95.62% | 4.38% |
| 2018 | 95.61% | 4.39% |
| 2019 | 96.37% | 3.63% |
| 2020 | 95.88% | 4.12% |
| 2021 | 95.63% | 4.37% |
Chief pilot related jobs gender ratio
We compared chief pilots with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, airline transport pilot and combat control have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Flight Attendant | 16% | 84% |
| International Flight Attendant | 21% | 79% |
| Flight Attendant | 21% | 79% |
| Chief Pilot | 96% | 4% |
| Agricultural Aviation Pilot | 98% | 2% |
| Combat Control | 98% | 2% |
| Airline Transport Pilot | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Chief pilot demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among chief pilots is White, which makes up 81.9% of all chief pilots. Comparatively, 7.0% of chief pilots are Hispanic or Latino and 5.5% of chief pilots are Unknown.
- White, 81.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 7.0%
- Unknown, 5.5%
- Black or African American, 2.7%
- Asian, 2.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
Chief pilot race
| Chief pilot race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 81.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 7.0% |
| Unknown | 5.5% |
| Black or African American | 2.7% |
| Asian | 2.7% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.2% |
Chief pilot race and ethnicity over time
See how chief pilot racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Chief pilot race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 87.87% | 2.23% | 1.39% | 6.07% |
| 2011 | 89.14% | 2.18% | 1.02% | 5.55% |
| 2012 | 88.34% | 2.76% | 1.55% | 5.41% |
| 2013 | 87.48% | 2.21% | 1.80% | 5.94% |
| 2014 | 88.08% | 2.40% | 1.58% | 5.67% |
| 2015 | 87.48% | 2.07% | 1.74% | 6.26% |
| 2016 | 86.76% | 1.82% | 1.65% | 6.64% |
| 2017 | 87.39% | 2.91% | 1.88% | 5.74% |
| 2018 | 85.69% | 2.10% | 1.97% | 7.28% |
| 2019 | 86.61% | 1.62% | 2.19% | 6.89% |
| 2020 | 83.03% | 2.48% | 2.78% | 7.25% |
| 2021 | 81.85% | 2.67% | 2.75% | 6.95% |
Chief pilot wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown chief pilots have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian chief pilots have the lowest average salary at $71,272.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $88,311 |
| White | $86,146 |
| Black or African American | $82,905 |
| Asian | $71,272 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $80,003 |
Average chief pilot age
See how the average age of chief pilots varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Chief pilot age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 46 | |
| White | 44 | 40 |
| Black or African American | 46.5 | |
| Asian | 34 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 44 |
Chief pilot age breakdown
The average age of chief pilots is 40+ years years old, representing 61% of the chief pilot population.
Chief pilot age breakdown
| Chief Pilot Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 61% |
| 30-40 years | 27% |
| 20-30 years | 11% |
Chief pilot educational attainment
The most common degree for chief pilots is bachelor's degree, with 68% of chief pilots earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 15% and associate degree degree at 12%.
- Bachelor's, 68%
- Associate, 15%
- Master's, 12%
- High School Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 2%
Chief pilots by degree level
| Chief pilot degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 68% |
| Associate | 15% |
| Master's | 12% |
| High School Diploma | 3% |
| Other Degrees | 2% |
Chief pilot jobs you might like
Chief pilot wage gap by degree level
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $91,355 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $88,136 |
Chief pilot employment statistics
Most chief pilots work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where chief pilots work
Below, you can see the size of companies where chief pilots work.
Chief pilot jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 6% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 19% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 28% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 12% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 18% |
| > 10,000 employees | 16% |
Chief pilot jobs by company type
Employees with the chief pilot job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most chief pilots prefer to work at private companies over public companies.
Chief pilot jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 2% |
| Public | 17% |
| Private | 75% |
| Government | 6% |
Chief pilot jobs by industry
The most common industries for chief pilots are transportation, manufacturing and professional.
Chief pilot industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 19% |
| Manufacturing | 11% |
| Professional | 10% |
| Technology | 7% |
| Government | 6% |
| Retail | 6% |
| Media | 5% |
| Fortune 500 | 5% |
| Hospitality | 4% |
| Health Care | 4% |
| Start-up | 4% |
| Insurance | 3% |
| Finance | 2% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Construction | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Education | 2% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
| Energy | 1% |
| Non Profits | 1% |
| Agriculture | 1% |
Chief pilot turnover and employment statistics
Chief pilot unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for chief pilots between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Chief pilot unemployment rate by year
| Year | Chief pilot unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.56% |
| 2011 | 2.99% |
| 2012 | 2.30% |
| 2013 | 2.29% |
| 2014 | 2.11% |
| 2015 | 1.19% |
| 2016 | 0.95% |
| 2017 | 1.24% |
| 2018 | 0.65% |
| 2019 | 0.93% |
| 2020 | 1.69% |
| 2021 | 2.31% |
Average chief pilot tenure
The average chief pilot stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 1,097 chief pilots resumes in Zippia's database.
Chief pilot tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 10% |
| 1-2 years | 32% |
| 3-4 years | 19% |
| 5-7 years | 16% |
| 8-10 years | 6% |
| 11+ years | 16% |
Chief pilot LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of chief pilots that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Parking Attendant | 3.71% | 45,127 |
| Aircraft Cleaner | 4.91% | 39,138 |
| Feeder | 5.16% | 695 |
| Chief Pilot | 8.59% | - |
| Flight Follower | 13.04% | 1,490 |
| Bus Attendant | 15.05% | 51,391 |
| Flight Attendant/Air Transportation Supervisor | 31.52% | 55,875 |
Similar chief pilot jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Parking Attendant | 3.71% | 45,127 |
| Aircraft Cleaner | 4.91% | 39,138 |
| Feeder | 5.16% | 695 |
| Flight Follower | 13.04% | 1,490 |
| Bus Attendant | 15.05% | 51,391 |
| Flight Attendant/Air Transportation Supervisor | 31.52% | 55,875 |
Foreign languages spoken by chief pilots
The most common foreign language among chief pilots is Spanish at 35.5%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Carrier at 9.7% and German is the third-most popular at 6.5%.
- Spanish, 35.5%
- Carrier, 9.7%
- German, 6.5%
- Japanese, 6.5%
- French, 6.5%
- Other, 35.3%
Chief pilot languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 35.5% |
| Carrier | 9.7% |
| German | 6.5% |
| Japanese | 6.5% |
| French | 6.5% |
| Other | 35.3% |
