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First officer salary
Average first officer salary
$82,510
Average First Officer Salary
The average salary for a First Officer is approximately $82,510 annually, translating to about $40 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on factors such as location, years of experience, and the specific airline. For example, First Officers with extensive experience may earn upwards of $100,000, especially in regions with high living costs.
Where Can a First Officer Earn More?
States like California and Texas tend to offer higher salaries due to increased demand for pilots. Additionally, working for major airlines often comes with better compensation packages compared to charter services or smaller carriers. Consider examining salary data across states to identify the best opportunities.
First Officer Salary Estimates from Across the Web
Various job platforms provide salary estimates for First Officers, helping job seekers make informed decisions. For instance, some reports indicate that entry-level First Officers can expect salaries around $65,000, while those in senior positions may earn significantly more. By leveraging these insights, candidates can negotiate better pay and understand market trends.
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Where can a First Officer earn more?
First officer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level first officer | $65,100 | $31.28 |
| Mid-level first officer | $86,100 | $41.38 |
| Senior-level first officer | $105,000 | $50.31 |
First officer salary estimates from across the web
Average first officer salary by state
The average first officer salary in New York, Connecticut, and Illinois are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average first officer salary states are Wyoming, Wisconsin, and Tennessee.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for first officers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mississippi | $98,233 | $47.23 |
| 2 | Illinois | $100,744 | $48.43 |
| 3 | New York | $104,483 | $50.23 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $102,237 | $49.15 |
| 5 | North Dakota | $86,527 | $41.60 |
| 6 | Washington | $97,767 | $47.00 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $84,537 | $40.64 |
| 8 | West Virginia | $86,859 | $41.76 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $83,298 | $40.05 |
| 10 | Ohio | $91,388 | $43.94 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $90,675 | $43.59 |
| 12 | New Jersey | $87,891 | $42.26 |
| 13 | Arizona | $78,725 | $37.85 |
| 14 | Indiana | $80,972 | $38.93 |
| 15 | Nevada | $77,853 | $37.43 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $84,958 | $40.85 |
| 17 | Iowa | $79,331 | $38.14 |
| 18 | Texas | $85,303 | $41.01 |
| 19 | Alaska | $89,153 | $42.86 |
| 20 | California | $90,214 | $43.37 |
| 21 | Colorado | $78,326 | $37.66 |
| 22 | Maryland | $81,420 | $39.14 |
| 23 | Vermont | $76,732 | $36.89 |
| 24 | District of Columbia | $92,105 | $44.28 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $74,766 | $35.95 |
| 26 | Michigan | $77,227 | $37.13 |
| 27 | Alabama | $73,520 | $35.35 |
| 28 | Oregon | $79,990 | $38.46 |
| 29 | Delaware | $80,188 | $38.55 |
| 30 | Maine | $70,609 | $33.95 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $69,419 | $33.37 |
| 32 | Florida | $76,288 | $36.68 |
| 33 | Georgia | $68,562 | $32.96 |
| 34 | Hawaii | $82,932 | $39.87 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $68,358 | $32.86 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $71,113 | $34.19 |
| 37 | Utah | $73,124 | $35.16 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $66,290 | $31.87 |
| 39 | South Carolina | $67,437 | $32.42 |
| 40 | Missouri | $69,710 | $33.51 |
| 41 | Virginia | $62,334 | $29.97 |
| 42 | Idaho | $60,071 | $28.88 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $65,731 | $31.60 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $65,234 | $31.36 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $62,998 | $30.29 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $61,087 | $29.37 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $60,820 | $29.24 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $57,975 | $27.87 |
| 49 | Montana | $63,456 | $30.51 |
| 50 | Wyoming | $61,791 | $29.71 |
| 51 | Kansas | $59,214 | $28.47 |
Highest paying cities for first officers
The highest-paying cities for first officers are Buffalo, NY, Chicago, IL, and Tacoma, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buffalo, NY | $101,946 | $49.01 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $101,068 | $48.59 |
| 3 | Tacoma, WA | $98,507 | $47.36 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $92,638 | $44.54 |
| 5 | Cleveland, OH | $92,637 | $44.54 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $91,277 | $43.88 |
| 7 | Anchorage, AK | $89,596 | $43.08 |
| 8 | Newark, NJ | $87,805 | $42.21 |
| 9 | San Antonio, TX | $86,171 | $41.43 |
| 10 | Boston, MA | $83,121 | $39.96 |
| 11 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $83,039 | $39.92 |
| 12 | Salisbury, MD | $81,897 | $39.37 |
| 13 | Saint George, UT | $79,795 | $38.36 |
| 14 | Colorado Springs, CO | $79,146 | $38.05 |
| 15 | Des Moines, IA | $79,009 | $37.99 |
| 16 | Las Vegas, NV | $77,890 | $37.45 |
| 17 | Jacksonville, FL | $77,207 | $37.12 |
| 18 | Birmingham, AL | $73,323 | $35.25 |
| 19 | Durham, NC | $71,660 | $34.45 |
| 20 | Saint Louis, MO | $70,575 | $33.93 |
First officer salary details
A first officer's salary ranges from $56,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $119,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a first officer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $119,000 | $9,917 | $57 |
| 75th Percentile | $100,000 | $8,333 | $48 |
| Average | $82,510 | $6,876 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
Highest paying first officer jobs
The highest paying types of first officers are law enforcement specialist, patrol sergeant, and policeman.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ranger | $32,117 | $2,676 | $15.44 | 748 |
| Police Cadet | $33,243 | $2,770 | $15.98 | 94,220 |
| Patrol Sergeant | $56,638 | $4,720 | $27.23 | 22,591 |
| Military Police | $42,633 | $3,553 | $20.50 | 4,476 |
| Code Enforcement Officer | $40,706 | $3,392 | $19.57 | 104,295 |
| Law Enforcement Officer | $39,219 | $3,268 | $18.86 | 105,817 |
Top companies hiring first officers now:
Which companies pay first officers the most?
First officer salaries at Lynden and Hawthorne Global Aviation Services are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average first officer salary at companies like Remote and Dynamic Aviation are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lynden | $84,486 | $40.62 |
| 2 | Hawthorne Global Aviation Services | $83,546 | $40.17 |
| 3 | Remote | $82,211 | $39.52 |
| 4 | Dynamic Aviation | $81,170 | $39.02 |
| 5 | PPG | $81,006 | $38.95 |
| 6 | Red Wing Aeroplane | $80,760 | $38.83 |
| 7 | Trans-System | $80,393 | $38.65 |
| 8 | Jet Aviation | $80,377 | $38.64 |
| 9 | General Dynamics | $79,283 | $38.12 |
| 10 | UPS | $78,315 | $37.65 |
| 11 | Solairus Aviation | $78,048 | $37.52 |
| 12 | Allegiant International | $77,941 | $37.47 |
| 13 | CommutAir | $77,686 | $37.35 |
| 14 | Eastern Airlines, Inc | $77,412 | $37.22 |
| 15 | ExpressJet Airlines | $77,271 | $37.15 |
| 16 | Frontier Airlines | $77,192 | $37.11 |
| 17 | Piedmont Airlines | $77,168 | $37.10 |
| 18 | NetJets | $77,149 | $37.09 |
| 19 | PSA Airlines | $76,971 | $37.01 |
| 20 | Air Wisconsin Airlines | $76,918 | $36.98 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
First officer salary trends
The average first officer salary has risen by $14,238 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average first officer earned $68,272 annually, but today, they earn $82,510 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for first officers over the last decade.
Compare first officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average first officer salary over time
Compare first officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
First officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $82,500 | $39.67 | +3.6% |
| 2025 | $79,500 | $38.22 | +2.8% |
| 2024 | $77,300 | $37.15 | +0.5% |
| 2023 | $76,900 | $36.95 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | $75,100 | $36.12 | +2.3% |
Recently added first officer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quest Diagnostics Incorporated | Captain, First Officer I | Englewood, CO | 06/28/2025 | $52,175 |
| Surjet Charter | Lear 45 First Officer | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 06/18/2025 | $80,000 |
| J&J Family of Companies | Pilot/First Officer Airplane | Trenton, NJ | 05/23/2025 | $115,000 |
| Alaska Airlines | Experienced First Officer | Portland, OR | 05/21/2025 | $193,507 |
| Priester Holdings | PC 12 First Officer (SIC) | Wheeling, IL | 05/02/2025 | $60,000 |
| Silver Airways LLC | ATR First Officer | Hollywood, FL | 04/28/2025 | $134,403 |
| Southern Airways Corporation | First Officer-Caravan | Palm Beach, FL | 04/28/2025 | $50,000 |
| Exclusive Jets | Caravan Seaplane First Officer | Kinston, NC | 04/04/2025 | $55,000 |
| Alaska Airlines | Experienced First Officer | Portland, OR | 04/02/2025 | $193,507 |
| Alaska Airlines | Experienced First Officer | Everett, WA | 04/02/2025 | $193,507 |
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