Pilot salaries are among the highest of any U.S. occupation, with substantial variation depending on carrier type, aircraft category, years of experience, and seniority within a collective bargaining agreement.
According to the 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (SOC 53-2011) earned a median annual wage of $211,790 — approximately $101.82 per hour.
That figure encompasses both regional and major airline pilots, whose compensation differs dramatically.
Regional airline first officers may start below $80,000, while major airline captains with seniority may earn well above $300,000.
This guide covers pay by experience level, airline type, geography, and the certifications and flight-hour requirements that gate entry into the profession.
The flight attendant salary and the commercial pilot salary are useful companion benchmarks for aviation career planning.
For comparison across aviation roles, the commercial pilot salary and the flight attendant salary provide useful benchmarks within the aviation industry.
Airline Pilot Salary Overview (2026)
According to the 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (SOC 53-2011), the national median annual wage was $211,790, or approximately $101.82 per hour.
BLS wage percentiles for this occupation:
- 10th percentile: ~$89,340/year
- 25th percentile: ~$119,870/year
- 50th percentile (median): $211,790/year
- 75th percentile: $239,200+/year (BLS caps wage reporting at this threshold)
- 90th percentile: $239,200+/year
The wide spread between the 10th and 90th percentiles reflects the structural pay gap between regional airline first officers in early career stages and senior captains at major carriers.
BLS wage reporting caps at $239,200 for the upper percentiles, meaning top earners may exceed that figure significantly.
To see exactly how wages like $100 an hour translate to annual, monthly, and after-tax take-home, our guide on $100 an hour is how much a year breaks down every pay period. For other rates in the range above, browse our hourly wage conversion guide index.
Pay by Experience Level
Pilot compensation is closely tied to seniority, certificate type, and the size of the carrier. The following ranges reflect typical industry estimates across regional and major airlines:
| Experience Level | Annual Salary | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (0–2 years) — Regional First Officer | $50,000 – $80,000 | $24 – $38/hr |
| Mid-Level (3–6 years) — Regional Captain / Major FO | $90,000 – $160,000 | $43 – $77/hr |
| Senior / Experienced (7+ years) — Major Airline Captain | $180,000 – $300,000+ | $87 – $144+/hr |
These ranges are estimates based on available industry data and publicly reported collective bargaining agreements. Individual pay depends heavily on the specific carrier, aircraft type, and position on the seniority list.
Pilot Salary by State and Region
Pilot pay is primarily determined by the employing carrier's collective bargaining agreement rather than the state where a pilot is based. However, BLS state-level OEWS data identifies certain states as top-paying for this occupation, typically those home to major airline hubs:
- Hawaii (HI): Consistently among the top-paying states for airline pilots due to the specialized nature of inter-island and transpacific routes. Pilots living in Hawaii face the high cost of living in Hawaii, which is relevant when evaluating whether elevated wages translate to stronger purchasing power.
- Washington (WA): Home to a major Seattle-Tacoma hub; above-median wages for pilots based in this market. The cost of living in Washington State is above average but generally more affordable than Hawaii or California.
- Georgia (GA): Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, the world's busiest airport, supports a large concentration of major-carrier pilots with above-median compensation
Pilots based at major hub airports — regardless of state — tend to have access to more desirable routes and aircraft, which translates to higher total compensation as seniority increases.
Understanding the cost of living in Washington State and the cost of living in California helps contextualize what higher nominal wages translate to in real purchasing power for pilots based at Seattle or LA hubs.
Factors That Affect Pilot Pay
Several structural and credential-related factors meaningfully influence what an airline pilot may earn over a career:
- Regional vs. major airline employment: Regional carriers (operating under code-share agreements with major airlines) have historically paid first officers substantially less than major airlines. Pilot supply constraints in recent years have pushed regional pay upward, but a meaningful gap with major carriers persists.
- Certificate type — ATP vs. restricted ATP: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate for pilots serving as captain on airliners with 10 or more seats. The minimum flight-hour requirement is 1,500 hours (reduced to 1,000 hours for military-trained pilots and 750 hours for graduates of an FAA-approved aviation university program). The ATP certificate is a gating credential for command authority at commercial airlines.
- Aircraft type and widebody qualification: Captains flying widebody international aircraft (Boeing 777, 787, Airbus A330, A350) typically earn more than narrowbody captains at the same carrier, reflecting the specialized training required and the long-haul nature of those operations.
- Seniority within collective bargaining: Most major airline pilot contracts are governed by collective bargaining agreements negotiated through the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) or independent unions. Seniority number — not years of aviation experience broadly — determines aircraft type, schedule preferences, base assignment, and pay rate within a given carrier. For those comparing transportation career paths, the CDL license route for commercial driving offers a much shorter training timeline at significantly lower cost.
- Per diem and trip pay: Pilots receive per-diem compensation for hours away from base, which can add several thousand dollars annually to gross income depending on trip structure.
Career Outlook for Airline Pilots
According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for airline and commercial pilots, employment in this occupation is projected to grow 6% from 2023 to 2033, roughly in line with the average for all occupations.
The BLS estimates approximately 18,100 job openings per year over the decade, driven by a combination of retirements — the FAA mandatory retirement age for airline pilots is 65 — and continued growth in air travel demand.
The regional airline industry has faced a well-documented pilot supply challenge in recent years, which has raised starting salaries for first officers and accelerated upgrades to captain.
Major carriers have also expanded hiring to address expected retirements among their senior pilot ranks.
The pace of openings may vary significantly with broader economic conditions and fuel prices, which affect airline capacity decisions.
Once earning a stable airline income, pilots benefit from learning how much to contribute to your 401(k) and reviewing retirement savings targets given the mandatory retirement age of 65.
A high-yield savings account is useful for building reserves between assignments.
Given the high earning potential of senior pilots, maximizing 401(k) contribution rates and opening a Roth IRA during lower-income regional years can significantly improve long-term wealth accumulation.
Pilots should also review retirement savings goals given the mandatory retirement age of 65, which means a finite career window for accumulation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the median salary for an airline pilot?
According to the 2024 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (SOC 53-2011) earned a median annual wage of $211,790, or approximately $101.82 per hour.
Pay varies widely by carrier type and seniority — regional first officers may start below $80,000, while major airline captains with significant seniority may earn above $300,000.
How many flight hours are required to become an airline pilot?
The FAA requires a minimum of 1,500 total flight hours to qualify for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, which is required to serve as captain on a commercial airliner with 10 or more seats.
The minimum is reduced to 1,000 hours for pilots with military training and to 750 hours for graduates of an FAA-approved aviation university program.
Building flight hours typically takes several years and involves flight instruction, general aviation, or regional airline flying.
Do regional airline pilots make as much as major airline pilots?
No — a meaningful pay gap exists between regional and major airline pilots.
Regional first officers have historically earned $50,000–$80,000 in early years, while major airline captains with substantial seniority typically earn $180,000–$300,000 or more.
The gap has narrowed somewhat as pilot supply pressures pushed regional carriers to raise starting pay, but major airline compensation remains substantially higher at equivalent career stages.
For another aviation career earning comparison, see the flight attendant salary and the commercial pilot salary.
What states pay airline pilots the most?
BLS OEWS state data identifies Hawaii, Washington, and Georgia among the top-paying states for airline pilots.
The cost of living in New York and the cost of living in Florida are also relevant for pilots based at JFK, LaGuardia, or Miami hubs.
These states are home to major airline hub operations — Atlanta, Seattle-Tacoma, and Honolulu — which concentrate higher-paid major carrier pilots.
In practice, pilot pay is governed primarily by the carrier's collective bargaining agreement rather than state of residence.
What is the job outlook for airline pilots?
The BLS projects 6% employment growth for airline pilots from 2023 to 2033, approximately in line with the average for all occupations.
Approximately 18,100 job openings per year are expected over the decade, with the largest driver being retirements — the FAA mandates retirement at age 65 for airline pilots — combined with steady growth in air travel demand.
Pilots who negotiate well at each career transition benefit from reviewing how to negotiate a salary offer strategies that apply even within union-governed scales.
Sources & References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (SOC 53-2011), 2024 survey data — https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes532011.htm
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook — Airline and Commercial Pilots, job outlook and wage data — https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/airline-and-commercial-pilots.htm
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, May 2024 — https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
Last updated: April 27, 2026