Pilot earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level pilot earnings begin at:

$48.72 per hour

$101,340 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level pilot earnings begin at:

$37.25 per hour

$77,480 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level pilot earnings begin at:

$23.88 per hour

$49,660 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level pilot earnings begin at:

$23.16 per hour

$48,180 per year

10th percentile

Starting level pilot earnings begin at:

$18.78 per hour

$39,060 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Pilot salary by state

State Name Average Salary
South Carolina $98,280
Wisconsin $87,820
Wyoming $80,630
Maine $76,470
Montana $49,660
Puerto Rico $47,280
Florida $232,600
California $227,870
Washington $222,340
Nevada $220,400
New York $219,980
Michigan $214,640
Texas $210,160
Virginia $206,690
Georgia $205,610
Idaho $202,430
Ohio $201,720
North Carolina $172,960
Arizona $169,410
Illinois $169,410
New Mexico $138,260
Alaska $130,200
Connecticut $129,940
Colorado $128,420
Arkansas $126,470
Oregon $119,670
Louisiana $116,710
North Dakota $116,470
Alabama $113,630
Mississippi $111,260
Oklahoma $111,260
New Hampshire $111,150
Indiana $109,680
Kansas $108,580
Iowa $105,810
Nebraska $104,900
Missouri $104,410
West Virginia $103,810
Pennsylvania $102,950
Minnesota $100,550
Utah $100,450
Tennessee $100,190

How do pilot salaries compare to similar careers?

Pilots earn about the same as related careers in Montana. On average, they make less than locomotive engineers but more than truck drivers.

Career Median Salary
Locomotive engineer salary $80K
Logistician salary $71K
Transportation planner salary $75K
Freight and cargo inspector salary $62K
Aviation inspector salary $62K
Pilot salary $50K
Customs broker salary $61K
Aircraft mechanic salary $61K
Cargo and freight agent salary $49K
Truck driver salary $48K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)