SOC 53-2011 · May 2025
Pilot Salary
Pilots in the US earn a median of $232,140 a year, according to the BLS May 2025 wage survey. The top 10% earn $463,830 or more, 4.3 times the $106,710 at the 10th percentile.
Median annual
$232,140
Half of all Pilots in the United States earn more than this figure, half earn less. From the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025 release.
Wage trend
Hourly
–
Job growth 2025-35
+8.3%
US workers
103,560
BLS series
Annual median wage for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in All Industries in the United States
Salary range
From entry to top decile
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread for Pilots is $106,710 – $463,830.
Percentile distribution
USD · annual
10th
$106,710
25th
$182,280
Median
$232,140
75th
$384,440
90th
$463,830
Percentile bands
Where your pay would sit
Percentile bands
Annual wages at each point of the BLS distribution for Pilots. Where you sit depends on experience, employer, location and credentials.
| Percentile | What it means | Annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | 10% earn less. Common for new entrants | $106,710 |
| 25th percentile | A quarter earn less | $182,280 |
| Median | Half earn more, half earn less | $232,140 |
| 75th percentile | A quarter earn more | $384,440 |
| 90th percentile | 10% earn more. Often senior or specialist staff | $463,830 |
Geography
Pilot pay by state
Pilots earn the most in Georgia ($618,090, +166% against the national median) and the least in Missouri ($97,680). BLS publishes a May 2025 estimate for this occupation in 37 of 51 states and D.C.
National median
$232,140
Highest-paying states for pilots
| State | Annual median | vs national | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $618,090 | +166% | 8,770 |
| Idaho | $507,640 | +119% | 330 |
| Michigan | $428,570 | +85% | – |
| California | $353,900 | +52% | 10,670 |
| Kentucky | $350,950 | +51% | 6,260 |
| Colorado | $307,490 | +32% | 5,830 |
| Illinois | $293,490 | +26% | 6,460 |
| New York | $255,240 | +10% | 6,900 |
| Alaska | $232,140 | +0% | 1,350 |
| Washington | $229,900 | -1% | 3,450 |
All 37 states, highest to lowest
| State | Annual median | Employed |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $618,090 | 8,770 |
| Idaho | $507,640 | 330 |
| Michigan | $428,570 | – |
| California | $353,900 | 10,670 |
| Kentucky | $350,950 | 6,260 |
| Colorado | $307,490 | 5,830 |
| Illinois | $293,490 | 6,460 |
| New York | $255,240 | 6,900 |
| Alaska | $232,140 | 1,350 |
| Washington | $229,900 | 3,450 |
| Arizona | $227,870 | 2,200 |
| Florida | $225,020 | 7,760 |
| Texas | $215,150 | 10,930 |
| Minnesota | $211,470 | 2,960 |
| Ohio | $204,170 | 1,550 |
| Connecticut | $199,870 | 80 |
| Nevada | $192,460 | 2,160 |
| Utah | $174,590 | 1,880 |
| Oregon | $173,190 | 750 |
| Indiana | $171,260 | – |
| Arkansas | $168,970 | 250 |
| Pennsylvania | $164,990 | 2,270 |
| Rhode Island | $164,880 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $151,540 | 2,240 |
| Maine | $147,930 | 40 |
| Kansas | $143,580 | 80 |
| Tennessee | $143,580 | 110 |
| South Carolina | $143,580 | 110 |
| Mississippi | $143,580 | 360 |
| New Mexico | $136,990 | 50 |
| Alabama | $136,990 | 360 |
| Oklahoma | $133,680 | 180 |
| Iowa | $131,730 | 100 |
| Nebraska | $131,650 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $120,740 | 150 |
| New Hampshire | $99,280 | 50 |
| Missouri | $97,680 | 120 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, state estimates, May 2025, all industries.
What affects this salary
Pay drivers for Pilots
Airline and commercial pilots (BLS SOC 53-2011) fly and navigate airplanes, helicopters, and other aircraft. Most major-airline positions require an FAA Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, a four-year college degree, and 1,500+ flight hours. Pay scales sharply with employer (legacy carriers, regionals, cargo, corporate) and seniority: captain pay at major US carriers substantially exceeds the OEWS median; regional first-officer pay typically falls below.
The 10th-to-90th percentile spread is $106,710 – $463,830. That gap reflects experience, certification, employer type, geographic cost of living, and shift differentials where applicable.
Geography matters. The best-paying states for this role are Georgia, Idaho and Michigan. Pay in Georgia runs 6.3 times the level in Missouri, before any adjustment for cost of living.
Getting in. BLS lists the typical entry-level education as bachelor's degree, and projects about 11,200 openings a year over 2025-35. Employment is projected to grow 8.3% over the same period, against 3.5% for all occupations.
Frequently asked
Questions readers ask
Frequently asked
What is the average Pilot salary in the US?
How much do Pilots make at the low and high end?
Which state pays Pilots the most?
Is the average Pilot salary higher than the median?
Is Pilot a growing career?
Open positions
Open Pilot roles hiring now
Browse current Pilot listings on Indeed and ZipRecruiter, filtered to your role.
Source & methodology
Wage and employment figures are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2025 release. Standard Occupational Classification: 53-2011. Figures represent the national median, mean, and percentile distribution across all employers and industries. Hourly equivalents assume a 2,080-hour work year. Job growth, annual openings and typical education are from the BLS Employment Projections program, 2025-35; see the Occupational Outlook Handbook entry. Read our methodology for details on how the data is sourced, transformed, and refreshed.