Pilot earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level pilot earnings begin at:

$82.88 per hour

$172,390 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level pilot earnings begin at:

$79.02 per hour

$164,360 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level pilot earnings begin at:

$69.03 per hour

$143,580 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level pilot earnings begin at:

$59.83 per hour

$124,450 per year

10th percentile

Starting level pilot earnings begin at:

$52.77 per hour

$109,760 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Pilot salary by state

State Name Average Salary
New Hampshire $99,280
Missouri $97,680
West Virginia $89,650
Wyoming $80,630
Montana $71,030
Puerto Rico $66,760
Georgia $618,090
Idaho $507,640
Michigan $428,570
California $353,900
Kentucky $350,950
Colorado $307,490
Illinois $293,490
New York $255,240
Alaska $232,140
Washington $229,900
Arizona $227,870
Florida $225,020
Texas $215,150
Minnesota $211,470
Ohio $204,170
Connecticut $199,870
Nevada $192,460
Utah $174,590
Oregon $173,190
Indiana $171,260
Arkansas $168,970
Pennsylvania $164,990
Rhode Island $164,880
North Carolina $151,540
Maine $147,930
Kansas $143,580
Mississippi $143,580
South Carolina $143,580
Tennessee $143,580
Alabama $136,990
New Mexico $136,990
Oklahoma $133,680
Iowa $131,730
Nebraska $131,650
Louisiana $120,740
North Dakota $116,470
Wisconsin $108,150

How do pilot salaries compare to similar careers?

Pilots earn 6% more than similar careers in Tennessee. On average, they make less than air crew officers but more than commercial pilots.

Career Median Salary
Air crew officer salary $144K
Pilot salary $144K
Shipmate salary $133K
Ship captain salary $133K
Commercial pilot salary $117K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)