The average salary for a pilot in the United States is around $147,220 per year.
Avg Salary
Pilots earn an average yearly salary of $147,220.
Wages typically start from $74,100.
163% above national average Updated in 2019
Pilot earnings by seniority
50th percentile
Mid-level pilot earnings begin at:
$70.78 per hour
$147,220 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level pilot earnings begin at:
$47.64 per hour
$99,090 per year
10th percentile
Starting level pilot earnings begin at:
$35.62 per hour
$74,100 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Pilot salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $98,530 |
| Arizona | $98,266 |
| Louisiana | $98,100 |
| Tennessee | $91,320 |
| West Virginia | $89,650 |
| Mississippi | $88,060 |
| Georgia | $87,940 |
| Wyoming | $80,630 |
| Maine | $76,470 |
| Montana | $71,030 |
| Puerto Rico | $66,760 |
| Washington | $237,150 |
| Michigan | $233,550 |
| Nevada | $220,400 |
| Oregon | $205,660 |
| California | $197,740 |
| Illinois | $193,600 |
| Colorado | $183,860 |
| Texas | $183,440 |
| Florida | $163,620 |
| Pennsylvania | $143,376 |
| Alaska | $136,460 |
| Indiana | $124,270 |
| New Mexico | $120,230 |
| Iowa | $117,192 |
| North Dakota | $116,470 |
| Nebraska | $112,680 |
| Connecticut | $111,790 |
| New Hampshire | $111,150 |
| Wisconsin | $108,150 |
| Kansas | $105,360 |
| Alabama | $104,690 |
| South Carolina | $104,690 |
| Missouri | $104,190 |
| Ohio | $102,010 |
| Arkansas | $101,590 |
| North Carolina | $101,420 |
| Oklahoma | $100,480 |
| Utah | $100,450 |
| New York | $100,020 |
How do pilot salaries compare to similar careers?
Pilots earn 75% more than similar careers in the United States.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Air traffic controller salary | $115K |
| Commercial pilot salary | $88K |
| Ship captain salary | $72K |
| Transportation planner salary | $78K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)