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Pilot instructor salary
Average pilot instructor salary
$90,143
Average Pilot Instructor Salary
As of October 2025, a Pilot Instructor earns an average salary of $90,143 per year, translating to approximately $43 per hour. This salary varies based on factors such as location, experience, and the specific industry.
How Much Does a Pilot Instructor Make?
Compensation for pilot instructors can differ significantly depending on geographic location and the type of employer. For instance, instructors in metropolitan areas often command higher salaries due to increased demand and cost of living adjustments.
Where Can a Pilot Instructor Earn More?
States such as California and Texas offer some of the highest salaries for pilot instructors. Additionally, cities like Los Angeles and Dallas are known for their robust aviation programs, providing ample opportunities for pilots seeking to teach.
Highest Paying Cities for Pilot Instructors
- Los Angeles, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Miami, FL
- Chicago, IL
These cities not only offer competitive salaries but also have a vibrant aviation community, making them ideal for aspiring pilot instructors.
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Where can a Pilot Instructor earn more?
Average pilot instructor salary by state
The average pilot instructor salary in California, New York, and New Jersey are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average pilot instructor salary states are Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for pilot instructors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $108,099 | $51.97 |
| 2 | California | $123,582 | $59.41 |
| 3 | Wyoming | $98,039 | $47.13 |
| 4 | Oregon | $110,078 | $52.92 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $112,775 | $54.22 |
| 6 | New York | $112,952 | $54.30 |
| 7 | Montana | $91,825 | $44.15 |
| 8 | Iowa | $91,747 | $44.11 |
| 9 | Louisiana | $91,004 | $43.75 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $90,435 | $43.48 |
| 11 | Colorado | $87,779 | $42.20 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $90,263 | $43.40 |
| 13 | Arizona | $88,128 | $42.37 |
| 14 | West Virginia | $87,192 | $41.92 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $96,166 | $46.23 |
| 16 | Delaware | $86,202 | $41.44 |
| 17 | Utah | $86,721 | $41.69 |
| 18 | Florida | $85,557 | $41.13 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $89,594 | $43.07 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $80,641 | $38.77 |
| 21 | Washington | $90,407 | $43.46 |
| 22 | Alaska | $81,393 | $39.13 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $88,306 | $42.45 |
| 24 | South Carolina | $79,491 | $38.22 |
| 25 | Kentucky | $81,883 | $39.37 |
| 26 | Vermont | $84,992 | $40.86 |
| 27 | Illinois | $85,144 | $40.93 |
| 28 | Kansas | $82,671 | $39.75 |
| 29 | Ohio | $81,360 | $39.12 |
| 30 | Maryland | $84,209 | $40.49 |
| 31 | North Dakota | $80,552 | $38.73 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $89,191 | $42.88 |
| 33 | Texas | $79,992 | $38.46 |
| 34 | Idaho | $79,122 | $38.04 |
| 35 | Virginia | $77,010 | $37.02 |
| 36 | Michigan | $72,735 | $34.97 |
| 37 | Tennessee | $79,135 | $38.05 |
| 38 | South Dakota | $77,044 | $37.04 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $71,655 | $34.45 |
| 40 | Georgia | $68,989 | $33.17 |
| 41 | District of Columbia | $83,733 | $40.26 |
| 42 | Arkansas | $76,268 | $36.67 |
| 43 | Maine | $72,175 | $34.70 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $70,517 | $33.90 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $68,306 | $32.84 |
| 46 | Wisconsin | $67,857 | $32.62 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $67,659 | $32.53 |
| 48 | Missouri | $68,869 | $33.11 |
| 49 | Minnesota | $61,672 | $29.65 |
| 50 | Alabama | $61,871 | $29.75 |
| 51 | Indiana | $66,493 | $31.97 |
Highest paying cities for pilot instructors
The highest-paying cities for pilot instructors are Trenton, NJ, Las Vegas, NV, and Albuquerque, NM.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trenton, NJ | $112,069 | $53.88 |
| 2 | Las Vegas, NV | $107,199 | $51.54 |
| 3 | Albuquerque, NM | $90,737 | $43.62 |
| 4 | Prescott, AZ | $90,603 | $43.56 |
| 5 | Tampa, FL | $86,562 | $41.62 |
| 6 | Baltimore, MD | $84,672 | $40.71 |
| 7 | Wichita, KS | $83,598 | $40.19 |
| 8 | Kingsville, TX | $79,359 | $38.15 |
| 9 | Virginia Beach, VA | $77,576 | $37.30 |
| 10 | Marietta, GA | $68,921 | $33.14 |
| 11 | Terre Haute, IN | $65,008 | $31.25 |
| 12 | Dothan, AL | $61,853 | $29.74 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $61,768 | $29.70 |
Pilot instructor salary details
A pilot instructor's salary ranges from $60,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $133,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a pilot instructor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $133,000 | $11,083 | $64 |
| 75th Percentile | $110,000 | $9,167 | $53 |
| Average | $90,143 | $7,512 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| 10th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
Highest paying pilot instructor jobs
The highest paying types of pilot instructors are private pilot, ems helicopter pilot, and aviator.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Aviator | $97,217 | $8,101 | $46.74 | 3,482 |
| Chief Pilot | $86,920 | $7,243 | $41.79 | 16,638 |
| Test Pilot | $96,060 | $8,005 | $46.18 | 20,665 |
Top companies hiring pilot instructors now:
Which companies pay pilot instructors the most?
Pilot instructor salaries at OBXtek and Technology Service are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average pilot instructor salary at companies like American Airlines and FlightSafety International are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OBXtek | $97,678 | $46.96 |
| 2 | Technology Service | $96,226 | $46.26 |
| 3 | American Airlines | $84,166 | $40.46 |
| 4 | FlightSafety International | $82,381 | $39.61 |
| 5 | Sun Country Airlines | $81,621 | $39.24 |
| 6 | Pacific Architects and Engineers | $81,335 | $39.10 |
| 7 | CAE | $80,849 | $38.87 |
| 8 | Lockheed Martin | $80,155 | $38.54 |
| 9 | NANA | $79,002 | $37.98 |
| 10 | L3Harris | $78,065 | $37.53 |
| 11 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | $58,459 | $28.11 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Pilot Instructor salary by industry
The average pilot instructor salary varies across industries:
- The average pilot instructor salary in the technology industry is $89,738, the highest of any industry.
- The average pilot instructor salary in the finance industry is $86,125.
- Pilot instructors in the education industry earn an average salary of $59,108, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for pilot instructors
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $89,738 | $43.14 |
| 2 | Transportation | $86,125 | $41.41 |
| 3 | Manufacturing | $84,296 | $40.53 |
| 4 | Telecommunication | $72,989 | $35.09 |
| 5 | Education | $59,108 | $28.42 |
High paying pilot instructor jobs
Pilot instructor salary trends
The average pilot instructor salary has risen by $22,511 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average pilot instructor earned $67,632 annually, but today, they earn $90,143 a year. That works out to a 21% change in pay for pilot instructors over the last decade.
Compare pilot instructor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average pilot instructor salary over time
Compare pilot instructor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Pilot instructor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $90,100 | $43.34 | +7.7% |
| 2024 | $83,200 | $39.98 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $79,500 | $38.20 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | $76,100 | $36.57 | +2.0% |
| 2021 | $74,600 | $35.86 | +1.4% |
Recently added pilot instructor salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | UAV Pilot/Instructor-Remote | WFH | Maryland | 05/26/2025 | $41,740 |
| Valiant | Contract Instructor Pilot-F-22 (Ptoc) | Hawaii | 03/28/2025 | $217,862 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | UAV Pilot/Instructor-Remote | WFH | Maryland | 03/27/2025 | $41,740 |
| Delaware Resource Group of Oklahoma | F35 Instructor Pilot Mcas Miramar | San Diego, CA | 03/15/2025 | $175,000 |
| Huntington Ingalls Industries | F-16 MTT Instructor Pilot | Homestead, FL | 03/13/2025 | $116,708 |
| HII | F-16 MTT Instructor Pilot | Homestead, FL | 03/13/2025 | $116,708 |
| Leidos | Uh-60 Blackhawk Instructor Pilot | Marana, AZ | 03/07/2025 | $85,150 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | FPV Drone Pilot/Instructor-Remote | WFH | Hoffman, NC | 02/19/2025 | $41,740 |
| Get It Recruit-Educational Services | UAV Pilot/Instructor-Remote | WFH | Maryland | 02/19/2025 | $41,740 |
| Valiant | Contract Instructor Pilot-F-22 (Ptoc) | Hawaii | 02/18/2025 | $217,862 |
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