The Average Salary of Airplane Pilots
Growth Trends for Related Jobs
The average annual salary for commercial airline pilots was $160,970 as of May 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The dominant employment sector, scheduled air transportation, was also the highest-paying sector at more than $208,000 per year.
Pilot Pay Basics
The median income for pilots was $160,970 per year as of May 2020 BLS data. 10 percent of pilots earned salaries at or above $208,000 per year. At the low end, 10 percent earned $80,920 a year or less.
Geographical Influence
Commercial pilot pay is influenced somewhat by location. May 2014 BLS data showed that Florida was the top-paying state for pilots at $158,220 per year. Georgia had the second-highest average pay among states at $145,060 annually. Other top-paying states for pilots included:
- Colorado at $139,030
- Alaska at $135,850
- California at $134,010
Airline and Commercial Pilots salary
- Top 10% Annual Salary: More than $208,000 ($100/hour)
- Median Annual Salary: $160,970 ($77.39/hour)
- Bottom 10% Annual Salary: Less than $80,920 ($38.90/hour)
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2014: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Airline and Commercial Pilots
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook: Airline and Commercial Pilots
- Career Trend: Airline and Commercial Pilots
Writer Bio
Neil Kokemuller has been an active business, finance and education writer and content media website developer since 2007. He has been a college marketing professor since 2004. Kokemuller has additional professional experience in marketing, retail and small business. He holds a Master of Business Administration from Iowa State University.