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The Average Salary of Airplane Pilots

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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
Writer

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.