How much does a pilot make? Pilot salary and hourly pay
A pilot in the US earns a median of $232,140 a year, about $111.61 an hour (estimated from annual pay; BLS publishes annual figures only for this job). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $106,710 and the top 10% earn over $463,830. Pay depends heavily on the state: the top-paying state, Georgia, has a median of $618,090.
Pilot pay calculator
Gross pay before taxes. If you enter your own hourly rate, it replaces the BLS figure. Otherwise hourly rate = BLS annual figure ÷ 2,080 hours (40 hours × 52 weeks), the same convention BLS uses.
How much does a pilot make an hour?
The median pilot earns $111.61 an hour*. Hourly pay ranges from about $51.30 for the lowest-paid 10% to $223.00 for the highest-paid 10%.
| Pay level | Per year | Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (bottom 10%) | $106,710 | $51.30* |
| Lower 25% | $182,280 | $87.63* |
| Median (typical) | $232,140 | $111.61* |
| Upper 25% | $384,440 | $184.83* |
| Top 10% | $463,830 | $223.00* |
* Estimated as annual pay ÷ 2,080 hours; BLS publishes annual pay only for this job.
Pilot salary by state
Median annual pay for pilots in every state, from BLS May 2025 data.
| State | Median per year | ≈ Per hour |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Alaska | $232,140 | $111.61 |
| Arizona | $227,870 | $109.55 |
| Arkansas | $168,970 | $81.24 |
| California | $353,900 | $170.14 |
| Colorado | $307,490 | $147.83 |
| Connecticut | $199,870 | $96.09 |
| Delaware | Not published | – |
| District of Columbia | Not published | – |
| Florida | $225,020 | $108.18 |
| Georgia | $618,090 | $297.16 |
| Hawaii | Not published | – |
| Idaho | $507,640 | $244.06 |
| Illinois | $293,490 | $141.10 |
| Indiana | $171,260 | $82.34 |
| Iowa | $131,730 | $63.33 |
| Kansas | $143,580 | $69.03 |
| Kentucky | $350,950 | $168.73 |
| Louisiana | $120,740 | $58.05 |
| Maine | $147,930 | $71.12 |
| Maryland | Not published | – |
| Massachusetts | Not published | – |
| Michigan | $428,570 | $206.04 |
| Minnesota | $211,470 | $101.67 |
| Mississippi | $143,580 | $69.03 |
| Missouri | $97,680 | $46.96 |
| Montana | Not published | – |
| Nebraska | $131,650 | $63.29 |
| Nevada | $192,460 | $92.53 |
| New Hampshire | $99,280 | $47.73 |
| New Jersey | Not published | – |
| New Mexico | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| New York | $255,240 | $122.71 |
| North Carolina | $151,540 | $72.86 |
| North Dakota | Not published | – |
| Ohio | $204,170 | $98.16 |
| Oklahoma | $133,680 | $64.27 |
| Oregon | $173,190 | $83.26 |
| Pennsylvania | $164,990 | $79.32 |
| Rhode Island | $164,880 | $79.27 |
| South Carolina | $143,580 | $69.03 |
| South Dakota | Not published | – |
| Tennessee | $143,580 | $69.03 |
| Texas | $215,150 | $103.44 |
| Utah | $174,590 | $83.94 |
| Vermont | Not published | – |
| Virginia | Not published | – |
| Washington | $229,900 | $110.53 |
| West Virginia | Not published | – |
| Wisconsin | Not published | – |
| Wyoming | Not published | – |
Highest-paying states for pilots
- Georgia: $618,090 median
- Idaho: $507,640 median
- Michigan: $428,570 median
- California: $353,900 median
- Kentucky: $350,950 median
The lowest medians are in Missouri ($97,680), New Hampshire ($99,280), Louisiana ($120,740), Nebraska ($131,650), Iowa ($131,730). The most pilot jobs are in Texas (10,930 jobs), California (10,670 jobs), Georgia (8,770 jobs), Florida (7,760 jobs), New York (6,900 jobs).
How much does a pilot make a month?
At the median salary of $232,140, a pilot earns about $19,345 a month, $8,928 every two weeks or $4,464 a week, before taxes.
Entry-level vs. experienced pilot pay
New pilots typically start near the bottom of the range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $106,710 a year and the lowest 25% under $182,280. The top 25% earn over $384,440 and the top 10% over $463,830. BLS does not break pay down by years of experience; these percentiles are the closest official measure.
Pilot salary vs. similar jobs
| Job | Median per year |
|---|---|
| Pilot | $232,140 |
| Paralegal | $62,890 |
| Police officer | $76,210 |
| Firefighter | $59,280 |
| Real estate agent | $52,830 |
| Flight attendant | $63,580 |
| Air traffic controller | $148,080 |
Common questions
How much does a pilot make?
The US median is $232,140 a year ($111.61 an hour), based on BLS May 2025 data.
How much does a pilot make an hour?
The median is about $111.61 an hour. The bottom 10% earn about $51.30 and the top 10% about $223.00 an hour.
Which state pays pilots the most?
Georgia has the highest median at $618,090, followed by Idaho ($507,640) and Michigan ($428,570).
How much does a pilot make a month?
At the US median of $232,140 a year, about $19,345 a month or $8,928 every two weeks, before taxes.
How much does an entry-level pilot make?
The lowest-paid 10% earn under $106,710 a year and the lowest 25% under $182,280, the closest official measure of starting pay.
How much do the top 10% of pilots make?
The top 10% earn over $463,830 a year; the top 25% earn over $384,440.
How much does a pilot make in California, Texas, Florida and New York?
Median annual pay is $353,900 in California, $215,150 in Texas, $225,020 in Florida, $255,240 in New York, per BLS May 2025 data.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. All figures are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 survey (occupation code 53-2011, “Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers”), the most recent official release; “median” means half earn more and half earn less. Figures are gross pay before taxes and benefits. See the BLS OEWS tables and the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. This page is general information, not career or financial advice.