Pilot earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level pilot earnings begin at:

$61.45 per hour

$127,810 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level pilot earnings begin at:

$57.83 per hour

$120,290 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level pilot earnings begin at:

$50.65 per hour

$105,360 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level pilot earnings begin at:

$43.50 per hour

$90,490 per year

10th percentile

Starting level pilot earnings begin at:

$28.38 per hour

$59,040 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 12% more than similar careers in Kansas. On average, they make less than freight and cargo inspectors but more than customs brokers.

Career Median Salary
Freight and cargo inspector salary $86K
Pilot salary $105K
Commercial pilot salary $93K
Transportation planner salary $78K
Locomotive engineer salary $72K
Customs broker salary $70K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)