How Much Does a Pilot Make? Salary by State
Median annual salary (U.S.)
$232,140
Pilots in the U.S. earn a median of $232,140 a year. Half of pilots earn more than $232,140 and half earn less. The top 10% make more than $463,830.
Pay percentiles for pilots
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
| 10th | $106,710 |
| 25th | $182,280 |
| 50th (median) | $232,140 |
| 75th | $384,440 |
| 90th | $463,830 |
U.S. wages, May 2025. BLS occupation: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (SOC 53-2011). Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
BLS reports only annual wages for pilots, because most are paid a yearly salary and often work a school or contract year rather than 2,080 hours. We do not convert these figures to an hourly rate.
Highest-paying states for pilots
| State | Median annual | vs. U.S. |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $618,090 | +166% |
| Idaho | $507,640 | +119% |
| Michigan | $428,570 | +85% |
| California | $353,900 | +52% |
| Kentucky | $350,950 | +51% |
| Colorado | $307,490 | +32% |
| Illinois | $293,490 | +26% |
| New York | $255,240 | +10% |
| Alaska | $232,140 | 0% |
| Washington | $229,900 | −1% |
| United States | $232,140 | — |
Top 10 states by median annual wage, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
How many pilots are there?
BLS counts about 103,560 pilots employed in the U.S. (May 2025, excluding the self-employed). These figures cover the BLS occupation “Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers”. The most jobs are in Texas (10,930), California (10,670) and Georgia (8,770).
The mean (average) annual wage is $288,650, higher than the median of $232,140.
Frequently asked questions
How much do pilots make an hour?
BLS publishes only annual wages for pilots, because most are paid a salary and work fewer than 2,080 hours a year. The median annual wage is $232,140.
Which state pays pilots the most?
Georgia has the highest median wage for pilots at $618,090, +166% vs. the U.S. median.
What is the starting salary for pilots?
BLS does not report pay by experience, but the lowest-paid 10% of pilots earn less than $106,710 a year, a common proxy for entry-level pay.