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Aircraft pilot salary
Average aircraft pilot salary
$94,207
Average Aircraft Pilot Salary Overview
As of October 2025, the average salary for an Aircraft Pilot in the United States is around $94,207 per year, or approximately $45 per hour. Pilots' earnings can significantly differ depending on various factors such as geographical location, years of experience, and the type of aircraft they are qualified to fly.
Salary Variations by State
For example, pilots in states like California and Texas typically earn higher wages due to a greater demand for aviation services. Each state presents its own unique salary landscape, impacting how much pilots can expect to make. In addition, pilots with advanced certifications or those flying larger aircraft often command higher salaries.
Top-Paying Cities
Major cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago frequently offer the highest salaries for pilots, reflecting the demand for air travel and corporate aviation in these areas. Understanding these dynamics enables potential pilots to make strategic career choices, whether they are just starting or looking to advance their careers.
Conclusion
With a focus on education and relevant experience, aspiring pilots can optimize their earning potential and find rewarding positions within the aviation industry.
Let Zippia find your next aircraft pilot job
Let Zippia find your next aircraft pilot job
Where can an Aircraft Pilot earn more?
Average aircraft pilot salary by state
The highest-paying states for aircraft pilots are New Jersey, California, and Iowa. The lowest average aircraft pilot salary states are Wisconsin, Indiana, and Pennsylvania.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for aircraft pilots
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wyoming | $103,029 | $49.53 |
| 2 | Nevada | $104,085 | $50.04 |
| 3 | Kansas | $104,486 | $50.23 |
| 4 | Louisiana | $98,587 | $47.40 |
| 5 | Alaska | $97,299 | $46.78 |
| 6 | Montana | $96,839 | $46.56 |
| 7 | Iowa | $104,651 | $50.31 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $92,376 | $44.41 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $112,190 | $53.94 |
| 10 | Texas | $93,165 | $44.79 |
| 11 | North Dakota | $87,819 | $42.22 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $91,162 | $43.83 |
| 13 | California | $106,561 | $51.23 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $96,861 | $46.57 |
| 15 | New Mexico | $90,100 | $43.32 |
| 16 | South Dakota | $85,180 | $40.95 |
| 17 | Delaware | $87,766 | $42.20 |
| 18 | New York | $99,209 | $47.70 |
| 19 | South Carolina | $87,733 | $42.18 |
| 20 | Illinois | $94,594 | $45.48 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $87,367 | $42.00 |
| 22 | Florida | $89,482 | $43.02 |
| 23 | Tennessee | $88,705 | $42.65 |
| 24 | Michigan | $89,277 | $42.92 |
| 25 | Colorado | $91,495 | $43.99 |
| 26 | Utah | $88,058 | $42.34 |
| 27 | Missouri | $88,819 | $42.70 |
| 28 | Arizona | $85,872 | $41.28 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $85,544 | $41.13 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $86,064 | $41.38 |
| 31 | Vermont | $84,689 | $40.72 |
| 32 | Idaho | $82,416 | $39.62 |
| 33 | Washington | $90,140 | $43.34 |
| 34 | Maryland | $87,150 | $41.90 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $86,744 | $41.70 |
| 36 | Oregon | $85,423 | $41.07 |
| 37 | Ohio | $86,666 | $41.67 |
| 38 | Connecticut | $87,585 | $42.11 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $79,670 | $38.30 |
| 40 | Oklahoma | $75,893 | $36.49 |
| 41 | Massachusetts | $86,791 | $41.73 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $76,616 | $36.83 |
| 43 | District of Columbia | $87,009 | $41.83 |
| 44 | Maine | $71,354 | $34.30 |
| 45 | Georgia | $76,943 | $36.99 |
| 46 | Virginia | $80,498 | $38.70 |
| 47 | Alabama | $69,261 | $33.30 |
| 48 | Wisconsin | $74,052 | $35.60 |
| 49 | Indiana | $73,641 | $35.40 |
| 50 | Pennsylvania | $71,643 | $34.44 |
| 51 | Minnesota | $68,368 | $32.87 |
Highest paying cities for aircraft pilots
The highest-paying cities for aircraft pilots are La Quinta, CA, New Windsor, NY, and Anchorage, AK.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | La Quinta, CA | $99,118 | $47.65 |
| 2 | New Windsor, NY | $98,764 | $47.48 |
| 3 | Anchorage, AK | $98,056 | $47.14 |
| 4 | Tallahassee, FL | $91,787 | $44.13 |
| 5 | Jefferson City, MO | $88,867 | $42.72 |
| 6 | Salem, OR | $85,390 | $41.05 |
| 7 | Fond du Lac, WI | $74,218 | $35.68 |
Aircraft pilot salary details
An aircraft pilot's salary ranges from $72,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $122,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an aircraft pilot's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $122,000 | $10,167 | $59 |
| 75th Percentile | $108,000 | $9,000 | $52 |
| Average | $94,207 | $7,851 | $45 |
| 25th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
| 10th Percentile | $72,000 | $6,000 | $35 |
Highest paying aircraft pilot jobs
The highest paying types of aircraft pilots are fighter pilot, air tour pilot, and private pilot.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aviator | $97,217 | $8,101 | $46.74 | 3,482 |
| Pilot Instructor | $90,143 | $7,512 | $43.34 | 26,978 |
| Pilot Captain | $68,096 | $5,675 | $32.74 | 5,093 |
| Pilot | $83,128 | $6,927 | $39.97 | 3,049 |
| Helicopter Pilot | $89,418 | $7,452 | $42.99 | 4,054 |
| Test Pilot | $96,060 | $8,005 | $46.18 | 20,665 |
Top companies hiring aircraft pilots now:
Which companies pay aircraft pilots the most?
Aircraft pilot salaries at Michels and My Florida Regional Mls are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average aircraft pilot salary at companies like Army National Guard and Us Army Reserves are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michels | $99,560 | $47.87 |
| 2 | My Florida Regional Mls | $91,641 | $44.06 |
| 3 | Army National Guard | $85,345 | $41.03 |
| 4 | Us Army Reserves | $84,998 | $40.86 |
| 5 | Alaska State Library | $80,517 | $38.71 |
| 6 | State Of Florida | $41,381 | $19.89 |
| 7 | Florida Department of Transportation | $40,438 | $19.44 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Aircraft Pilot salary by industry
The average aircraft pilot salary varies across industries:
- The average aircraft pilot salary in the energy industry is $96,859, the highest of any industry.
- The average aircraft pilot salary in the finance industry is $96,248.
- Aircraft pilots in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $87,886, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for aircraft pilots
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Energy | $96,859 | $46.57 |
| 2 | Transportation | $96,248 | $46.27 |
| 3 | Media | $90,042 | $43.29 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $87,886 | $42.25 |
High paying aircraft pilot jobs
Aircraft pilot salary trends
The average aircraft pilot salary has risen by $23,526 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average aircraft pilot earned $70,681 annually, but today, they earn $94,207 a year. That works out to a 21% change in pay for aircraft pilots over the last decade.
Compare aircraft pilot salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average aircraft pilot salary over time
Compare aircraft pilot salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Aircraft pilot salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $94,200 | $45.29 | +7.7% |
| 2025 | $86,900 | $41.79 | +4.5% |
| 2024 | $83,000 | $39.92 | +4.3% |
| 2023 | $79,500 | $38.22 | +2.0% |
| 2022 | $78,000 | $37.48 | +1.4% |
Recently added aircraft pilot salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Garden and Pet | Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Pilot/Uas Sales Support | Sacramento, CA | 06/28/2025 | $52,175 |
| State of Alaska | Aircraft Pilot 2 (PCN 111430) | Nome, AK | 06/26/2025 | $110,945 |
| Department of Defense | Aircraft Pilot | Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD | 06/26/2025 | $156,755 |
| Flyexclusive | Citation CJ3-Managed Aircraft Pilot-Captain: ST. Petersburg Florida Area | Kinston, NC | 06/25/2025 | $140,000 |
| Exclusive Jets | Citation CJ3-Managed Aircraft Pilot-Captain: Greater Pittsburgh Area | Kinston, NC | 06/24/2025 | $140,000 |
| Us Department of Transportation | Aircraft Pilot (Direct) | Washington, DC | 06/10/2025 | $94,544 |
| Texas State Technical College | Instructor, Aircraft Pilot Training (Ground) | Waco, TX | 03/19/2025 | $78,000 |
| State of New York | Aircraft Pilot | Newburgh, NY | 03/14/2025 | $142,488 |
| State of Wisconsin | Aircraft Pilot (Multiple Positions) | Eau Claire, WI | 03/12/2025 | $74,880 |
| Drone Cadets | Principal/Sr. Principal Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Pilot | Emerado, ND | 03/12/2025 | $130,500 |
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