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Pilot captain salary
Average pilot captain salary
$68,096
Average Pilot Captain Salary
The average salary for a Pilot Captain is $68,096 per year, translating to approximately $33 per hour. This figure serves as a benchmark, yet actual earnings can differ based on various factors such as experience, geographic location, and the specific employer.
How Much Does a Pilot Captain Make?
In terms of experience, entry-level Pilot Captains can expect to earn less, while those with extensive experience and specialized training may see salaries significantly higher than the average. For example, Pilot Captains working in the commercial aviation sector often command higher wages compared to those in smaller private firms.
Where Can a Pilot Captain Earn More?
Location plays a crucial role in salary differences. States like California and New York typically offer higher salaries due to the concentration of airlines and demand for experienced pilots. Additionally, cities such as San Francisco and New York City rank among the highest paying cities for Pilot Captains.
Career Outlook
As air travel continues to grow, opportunities for Pilot Captains are expected to expand. The demand for skilled pilots remains strong, making this a promising career choice for aviation enthusiasts.
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Where can a Pilot Captain earn more?
Average pilot captain salary by state
The average pilot captain salary in New Jersey, Iowa, and Kansas are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average pilot captain salary states are Idaho, Maine, and Pennsylvania.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for pilot captains
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa | $81,836 | $39.34 |
| 2 | Louisiana | $72,693 | $34.95 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $82,966 | $39.89 |
| 4 | Kansas | $81,602 | $39.23 |
| 5 | Colorado | $69,529 | $33.43 |
| 6 | Kentucky | $70,366 | $33.83 |
| 7 | Missouri | $69,332 | $33.33 |
| 8 | Michigan | $68,469 | $32.92 |
| 9 | North Dakota | $67,053 | $32.24 |
| 10 | Wyoming | $76,424 | $36.74 |
| 11 | Texas | $68,528 | $32.95 |
| 12 | South Carolina | $66,097 | $31.78 |
| 13 | Tennessee | $68,113 | $32.75 |
| 14 | Florida | $66,650 | $32.04 |
| 15 | Illinois | $73,161 | $35.17 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $70,962 | $34.12 |
| 17 | Nevada | $65,082 | $31.29 |
| 18 | New York | $73,460 | $35.32 |
| 19 | Hawaii | $70,290 | $33.79 |
| 20 | New Mexico | $65,773 | $31.62 |
| 21 | Ohio | $66,836 | $32.13 |
| 22 | Montana | $65,472 | $31.48 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $65,755 | $31.61 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $65,573 | $31.53 |
| 25 | California | $67,300 | $32.36 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $65,890 | $31.68 |
| 27 | Delaware | $65,272 | $31.38 |
| 28 | Arizona | $60,678 | $29.17 |
| 29 | Oklahoma | $58,347 | $28.05 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $64,140 | $30.84 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $60,088 | $28.89 |
| 32 | Maryland | $65,241 | $31.37 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $59,941 | $28.82 |
| 34 | District of Columbia | $65,293 | $31.39 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $64,500 | $31.01 |
| 36 | Alaska | $58,475 | $28.11 |
| 37 | Connecticut | $64,819 | $31.16 |
| 38 | Utah | $59,941 | $28.82 |
| 39 | Massachusetts | $64,321 | $30.92 |
| 40 | Vermont | $63,934 | $30.74 |
| 41 | Virginia | $60,403 | $29.04 |
| 42 | Indiana | $57,132 | $27.47 |
| 43 | Idaho | $53,850 | $25.89 |
| 44 | Alabama | $52,289 | $25.14 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $56,867 | $27.34 |
| 46 | Georgia | $58,278 | $28.02 |
| 47 | Oregon | $52,867 | $25.42 |
| 48 | Washington | $53,874 | $25.90 |
| 49 | Pennsylvania | $53,352 | $25.65 |
| 50 | Minnesota | $52,515 | $25.25 |
| 51 | Maine | $53,774 | $25.85 |
Highest paying cities for pilot captains
The highest-paying cities for pilot captains are Newark, NJ, Elmira, NY, and Moline, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark, NJ | $82,935 | $39.87 |
| 2 | Elmira, NY | $73,385 | $35.28 |
| 3 | Moline, IL | $72,990 | $35.09 |
| 4 | Denver, CO | $69,535 | $33.43 |
| 5 | Hilo, HI | $69,483 | $33.41 |
| 6 | Kansas City, MO | $69,244 | $33.29 |
| 7 | El Paso, TX | $69,206 | $33.27 |
| 8 | Lansing, MI | $68,428 | $32.90 |
| 9 | Santa Maria, CA | $68,219 | $32.80 |
| 10 | Memphis, TN | $67,997 | $32.69 |
| 11 | Cincinnati, OH | $66,740 | $32.09 |
| 12 | Boca Raton, FL | $65,797 | $31.63 |
| 13 | San Juan, PR | $65,752 | $31.61 |
| 14 | Las Vegas, NV | $65,018 | $31.26 |
| 15 | Manchester, NH | $64,131 | $30.83 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $60,674 | $29.17 |
| 17 | Richmond, VA | $60,450 | $29.06 |
| 18 | Omaha, NE | $60,152 | $28.92 |
| 19 | Salt Lake City, UT | $59,904 | $28.80 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $58,434 | $28.09 |
Pilot captain salary details
A pilot captain's salary ranges from $57,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $81,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a pilot captain's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
| 75th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| Average | $68,096 | $5,675 | $33 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
| 10th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
Highest paying pilot captain jobs
The highest paying types of pilot captains are fighter pilot, private pilot, and ems helicopter pilot.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviator | $97,217 | $8,101 | $46.74 | 3,482 |
| Helicopter Pilot | $89,418 | $7,452 | $42.99 | 4,054 |
| Corporate Pilot | $87,661 | $7,305 | $42.14 | 12,371 |
| Aircraft Pilot | $94,207 | $7,851 | $45.29 | 5,585 |
| Chief Pilot | $86,920 | $7,243 | $41.79 | 16,638 |
| Test Pilot | $96,060 | $8,005 | $46.18 | 20,665 |
Top companies hiring pilot captains now:
Which companies pay pilot captains the most?
Pilot captain salaries at Wiggins Airways and SkyWest Airlines are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average pilot captain salary at companies like CommutAir and Quest Diagnostics are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wiggins Airways | $72,997 | $35.09 |
| 2 | SkyWest Airlines | $72,364 | $34.79 |
| 3 | CommutAir | $71,923 | $34.58 |
| 4 | Quest Diagnostics | $71,865 | $34.55 |
| 5 | Air Methods | $71,534 | $34.39 |
| 6 | Werner Enterprises | $71,402 | $34.33 |
| 7 | Rose Hills Mortuary | $70,634 | $33.96 |
| 8 | The Coca-Cola Company | $69,911 | $33.61 |
| 9 | Rollins | $68,833 | $33.09 |
| 10 | Hawthorne Global Aviation Services | $68,211 | $32.79 |
| 11 | American Commercial Lines | $67,134 | $32.28 |
| 12 | Raytheon Technologies | $67,108 | $32.26 |
| 13 | Dynamic Aviation | $66,993 | $32.21 |
| 14 | Ameriflight | $66,870 | $32.15 |
| 15 | Service Corporation International | $64,399 | $30.96 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Pilot captain salary trends
The average pilot captain salary has risen by $17,006 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average pilot captain earned $51,090 annually, but today, they earn $68,096 a year. That works out to a 21% change in pay for pilot captains over the last decade.
Compare pilot captain salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average pilot captain salary over time
Compare pilot captain salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Pilot captain salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $68,100 | $32.74 | +7.7% |
| 2025 | $62,800 | $30.20 | +4.5% |
| 2024 | $60,000 | $28.86 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $57,500 | $27.63 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $56,300 | $27.09 | +1.4% |
Recently added pilot captain salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priester Holdings | Citation XLS+ Pilot Captain (PIC) | Miami, FL | 04/24/2025 | $140,000 |
| Tradewind Aviation, LLC | Pilot-Pc-12 Fasttrack Captain | Oxford, CT | 12/16/2024 | $50,000 |
| Tradewind Aviation, LLC | Pilot-Pc-12 Fasttrack Captain | Westchester, FL | 12/08/2024 | $50,000 |
| Phi Air Medical Group | Pilot, Captain H145 Ifr/Nvg | Cleveland, OH | 10/23/2024 | $75,000 |
| Airmed International | Airmed Pilot Beechjet 400 Captain-PIC | San Antonio, TX | 10/22/2024 | $134,249 |
| Tradewind Aviation, LLC | Pilot-Pc-12 Fasttrack Captain | Oxford, CT | 10/05/2024 | $50,000 |
| Commuteair LLC | Captain Pilot | Houston, TX | 09/30/2024 | $154,438 |
| Tradewind Aviation, LLC | Pilot-Pc-12 Fasttrack Captain | Stuart, FL | 09/27/2024 | $50,000 |
| Tradewind Aviation, LLC | Pilot-Pc-12 Fasttrack Captain | Oxford, CT | 09/11/2024 | $50,000 |
| Aero Flite Inc. | Pilots-Captain-Q400 | Ione, WA | 09/11/2024 | $94,000 |
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