The average salary for a pilot in the United States is around $108,992 per year.
Avg Salary
Pilots earn an average yearly salary of $108,992.
Wages typically start from $50,587 and go up to $234,830.
98% above national average Updated in 2023
Pilot earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level pilot earnings begin at:
$112.90 per hour
$234,830 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level pilot earnings begin at:
$78.48 per hour
$163,246 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level pilot earnings begin at:
$52.40 per hour
$108,992 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level pilot earnings begin at:
$34.99 per hour
$72,769 per year
10th percentile
Starting level pilot earnings begin at:
$24.32 per hour
$50,587 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 29% more than similar careers in the United States.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Air traffic controller salary | $101K |
| Ship captain salary | $85K |
| Commercial pilot salary | $84K |
| Shipmate salary | $84K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)