The Median Income For Airline Pilots Will Make You Pause

The U.S. job market is in a tricky spot in the 2020s, with stagnating wages and fears of AI taking over jobs. However, for certain high-flying occupations, things may be looking up. Salaries vary widely across the airline industry, but one of the roles in highest demand also happens to have an attractive salary: pilot. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data shows the median wage for this crucial aviation position was $232,140, as of May 2025 — the most recent data available as of October 2026. This specifically includes salaries for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers. For non-airline pilots and flight engineers — which the BLS lists in their own category — the median pay was slightly lower at $210,020. Meanwhile, pay is generally lowest for commercial pilots that work gigs like charter flights and aerial tours, with a median annual wage of $123,220.

For those looking to potentially switch career paths, the good news is that overall employment for pilots is expected to grow 7% between 2025 and 2035, with over 16,000 openings anticipated each year. Airline pilots, in particular, are expected to grow 8% through 2035, indicating fairly stable growth. This is especially significant considering BLS stats show total U.S. employment is only anticipated to grow 3.5% over the same time period. And, while airline pilot pay is less than some of the highest-paying jobs in the United States, it's still far above the 2025 personal median income in the U.S. — $46,960, per Federal Reserve data. 

It's important the realize the BLS is identifying median salaries, or the point at which half of workers earn less and the other half earn more. With that in mind, even with an impressive median income for airline pilots, individual salaries can be wildly different. The reality is that airline pilot pay varies across everything from airlines to flight routes and home bases to pilot experience. This means that senior top-earning pilots can, and do, make well above the median.

Per Acron Aviation Academy's analysis of pilot salaries, pilots of regional carriers make between $75,000 and $95,000 their first year, while first-year pilots, also known as first officers, at larger legacy carriers or low-cost airlines can make between $110,000 and $150,000. However, fast forward and pilots with 12 years of experience can make between $300,000 to over $400,000 annually. These pay rates are also backed up by BLS statistics, with the lowest-earning 10% of airline pilots making less than $106,710 in 2025 while the highest-earning 10% made over twice the median wage at $463,830 annually.

Another reason pay varies is that pilots are typically paid by the hour rather than being on yearly salaries. An analysis of 2025 pay rates by Air Line Pilots Association found that Southwest Airlines offers first year pilots the best hourly rate among major airlines — at $139.10 an hour — while Allegiant offers the worst at $57.67 an hour.

Like many jobs, an airline pilot's salary is just the foundation of the overall compensation package. Airline pilots often enjoy a variety of other benefits on top of their pay. From expansive retirement plans to travel perks that often mean free or discounted flights for a pilot's entire family, these add-ons can amount to thousands of dollars in extra value each year. There is also employer-sponsored health insurance, which can be all the more important as Americans spend thousands on healthcare every year.

Other perks can include paid vacation, parental leave, disability insurance, and reimbursements for work-related expenses, such as passport renewals. Some pilots may also get meal discounts during travel and free accommodations at hotels if they have to spend the night in a city other than their home base while are on the job. Benefits are typically negotiated by pilot unions, though they can still vary by both airline and seniority level. Outside perks are also a thing with some hotels, cruises, rental car companies, and other travel-related businesses often offering airline staff discounts if they book with them.