Home Salary Guide Pilot

Transportation

Pilot Salary

Pilots fly airplanes, helicopters, and other aircraft to carry out a wide variety of tasks including transporting passengers and cargo, dusting crops, and directing firefighting efforts.

Median: $148,900 Growth: 6% BLS Data

Pilot Salary Range

Entry Level

$70,000

0-2 years

Mid Career

$130,000

5-10 years

Senior Level

$200,000

10+ years

Salary Percentiles

10th Percentile $61,980

25th Percentile $93,000

Median (50th) $148,900

75th Percentile $208,000

90th Percentile $208,000

Top Paying States for Pilots

1 Georgia

$195,000

2 Kentucky

$190,000

3 Tennessee

$185,000

4 Texas

$180,000

5 Ohio

$175,000

Job Outlook & Education

Growth Rate

+6%

Above Average

Education

Bachelor's degree and FAA pilot certificate with ATP rating

How Much Do Pilots Make?

The median annual salary for a pilot in the United States is $148,900 as of 2026. This means half of pilots earn more than this amount, and half earn less.

Salary by Experience Level

Entry Level (0-2 years): $70,000
Mid Career (5-10 years): $130,000
Senior Level (10+ years): $200,000

Calculate Your Take-Home

See exactly how much you'll take home after taxes with our income calculator.

Calculate $148,900 Salary

Hourly Equivalent

Based on 2,080 work hours/year

$71/hr

See $71/hr Breakdown

Ask AI About This Salary

Get personalized tax, budget, and affordability analysis.

What Can a Pilot Afford?

Based on median salary of $148,900

Max Rent $3,750/mo

Max Car Payment $1,500/mo

Monthly Savings $1,758/mo

See Full Budget Breakdown

Useful Tools

Housing Calculator Auto Calculator Budget Planner

Related Careers

Aerospace Engineer

$126,880 median

Level Up Your Career

Tools to help you earn more

MyPerfectResume Top Pick

Professional resume builder with ATS-optimized templates

Modern resume designs with AI writing assistance

Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you sign up through these links, at no extra cost to you.

We use cookies for analytics to improve your experience. No financial data is ever tracked. Privacy Policy

Before You Go...

Do you know your credit score?

Check your credit score in 2 minutes — completely free, no credit card required.

Free credit scores Weekly updates Credit monitoring 100% free forever

Check My Score Free

Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no cost to you