How much does an airline pilot make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $111.61 an hour or $19,350 a month.
- Hourly
- $111.61
- Average (mean)
- $288,700
- Jobs
- 103,560
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $106,700 | $51.30 | |
| 25th | $182,300 | $87.63 | |
| Median | $232,100 | $111.61 | |
| 75th | $384,400 | $184.83 | |
| 90th | $463,800 | $223.00 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Georgia | $618,100 |
| Idaho | $507,600 |
| Michigan | $428,600 |
| California | $353,900 |
| Kentucky | $351,000 |
| Colorado | $307,500 |
| Illinois | $293,500 |
| New York | $255,200 |
| Alaska | $232,100 |
| Washington | $229,900 |
| Arizona | $227,900 |
| Florida | $225,000 |
| Texas | $215,200 |
| Minnesota | $211,500 |
| Ohio | $204,200 |
| Connecticut | $199,900 |
| Nevada | $192,500 |
| Utah | $174,600 |
| Oregon | $173,200 |
| Indiana | $171,300 |
| Arkansas | $169,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $165,000 |
| Rhode Island | $164,900 |
| North Carolina | $151,500 |
| Maine | $147,900 |
| Kansas | $143,600 |
| Mississippi | $143,600 |
| South Carolina | $143,600 |
| Tennessee | $143,600 |
| Alabama | $137,000 |
| New Mexico | $137,000 |
| Oklahoma | $133,700 |
| Iowa | $131,700 |
| Nebraska | $131,700 |
| Louisiana | $120,700 |
| New Hampshire | $99,280 |
| Missouri | $97,680 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Atlanta, GA | $618,100 |
| Boise City, ID | $507,600 |
| Detroit, MI | $428,600 |
| San Francisco, CA | $374,700 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $364,700 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $351,000 |
| San Jose, CA | $343,100 |
| New York, NY | $335,300 |
| San Diego, CA | $322,000 |
| Houston, TX | $307,700 |
| Denver, CO | $307,500 |
| Chicago, IL | $293,500 |
| Anchorage, AK | $232,200 |
| Seattle, WA | $229,900 |
| Tampa, FL | $229,500 |
In other countries
Airline Pilot belongs to the international group "Aircraft pilots and related associate professionals".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Commercial Pilot$123,200
- Air Traffic Controller$148,100
- Airfield Operations Specialist$56,850
- Flight Attendant$63,580
Frequently asked questions
How much does an airline pilot make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $111.61 ($232,100 a year).
How much does an airline pilot make a month?
About $19,350 a month before tax, based on a median of $232,100 a year.
How much does an airline pilot make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $106,700 or less a year ($51.30 an hour); the top 10% make $463,800 or more.
Which state pays airline pilots the most?
Georgia, with a median of $618,100 a year, followed by Idaho ($507,600) and Michigan ($428,600).
Which city pays airline pilots the most?
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA, with a median of $618,100 a year.
How many airline pilots are there in the United States?
About 103,560 people work as airline pilots.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.