Transportation0% remote-eligible+5.2% YoY growth

Airline Pilot Salary
by City (2026)

Operate commercial aircraft transporting passengers and cargo on scheduled or charter flights. National median: $160K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$160K

Top 10% earn

$330K

Entry level

$105K

Salary growth

+5.2%/yr

Airline Pilot salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$142K	$216K	$317K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$139K	$211K	$310K	210	9.3%
Oakland, CA	$134K	$205K	$301K	185	9.3%
New York City, NY	$135K	$205K	$301K	187	6.85%
Washington, DC	$134K	$205K	$301K	152	8.5%
Cambridge, MA	$134K	$204K	$300K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$134K	$204K	$300K	185	11%
Bellevue, WA	$130K	$199K	$292K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$129K	$197K	$289K	172	9.3%
Jersey City, NJ	$128K	$195K	$287K	162	10.75%
Yonkers, NY	$127K	$193K	$284K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$127K	$193K	$284K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$126K	$192K	$282K	163	9.3%
Kirkland, WA	$126K	$192K	$282K	162	None ✓
Boston, MA	$126K	$192K	$282K	162	5%
Arlington, VA	$126K	$192K	$282K	148	5.75%
Newark, NJ	$126K	$192K	$282K	155	10.75%
San Diego, CA	$124K	$189K	$277K	148	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$124K	$189K	$277K	155	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$124K	$189K	$277K	150	None ✓
Stamford, CT	$124K	$189K	$278K	158	6.99%
Hilo, HI	$123K	$188K	$276K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$122K	$185K	$272K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$121K	$184K	$270K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$121K	$184K	$270K	148	5.75%
Honolulu, HI	$121K	$184K	$270K	192	11%
Anchorage, AK	$121K	$184K	$270K	128	None ✓
Alexandria, VA	$120K	$183K	$268K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$120K	$183K	$268K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$118K	$180K	$264K	140	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$118K	$179K	$263K	128	9.3%
Chula Vista, CA	$117K	$179K	$262K	138	9.3%
Edison, NJ	$117K	$179K	$262K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$117K	$179K	$262K	138	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$116K	$176K	$259K	107	4.95%
Worcester, MA	$116K	$176K	$259K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$116K	$176K	$259K	110	3.07%
Portland, OR	$116K	$176K	$259K	130	9.9%
Baltimore, MD	$116K	$176K	$259K	115	5.75%
Tacoma, WA	$113K	$173K	$254K	128	None ✓
Denver, CO	$113K	$173K	$254K	118	4.55%
New Haven, CT	$112K	$170K	$250K	122	6.99%
Nashua, NH	$111K	$169K	$248K	120	None ✓
Houston, TX	$110K	$168K	$247K	91	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$110K	$168K	$247K	96	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$110K	$168K	$247K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$110K	$168K	$247K	118	9.3%
Miami, FL	$110K	$168K	$247K	123	None ✓
Naperville, IL	$110K	$168K	$247K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$110K	$168K	$247K	118	None ✓
Atlanta, GA	$110K	$168K	$247K	99	5.75%
Lowell, MA	$110K	$168K	$247K	118	5%
Minneapolis, MN	$110K	$168K	$247K	106	6.8%
Gresham, OR	$110K	$168K	$247K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$110K	$168K	$247K	118	6.99%
Hartford, CT	$110K	$168K	$247K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$110K	$168K	$247K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$110K	$168K	$247K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$110K	$168K	$247K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$109K	$166K	$244K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$109K	$166K	$244K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$109K	$166K	$244K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$109K	$166K	$244K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$109K	$166K	$244K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$109K	$166K	$244K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$109K	$166K	$244K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$109K	$166K	$244K	115	5.99%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$108K	$165K	$242K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$108K	$165K	$242K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$108K	$165K	$242K	112	4.75%
Eugene, OR	$107K	$164K	$240K	110	9.9%
Austin, TX	$107K	$163K	$240K	110	None ✓
Fort Worth, TX	$107K	$163K	$240K	93	None ✓
Plano, TX	$107K	$163K	$240K	105	None ✓
Irving, TX	$107K	$163K	$240K	97	None ✓
Round Rock, TX	$107K	$163K	$239K	108	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$107K	$163K	$240K	118	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$107K	$163K	$239K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$107K	$163K	$239K	108	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$107K	$163K	$240K	112	4.55%
Thornton, CO	$107K	$163K	$239K	108	4.55%
St. Paul, MN	$107K	$163K	$240K	104	6.8%
Reno, NV	$107K	$163K	$240K	108	None ✓
Salt Lake City, UT	$107K	$163K	$240K	105	4.85%
Boise, ID	$107K	$163K	$239K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$107K	$163K	$239K	108	6.6%
Stockton, CA	$106K	$161K	$237K	105	9.3%
Springfield, MA	$106K	$161K	$237K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$106K	$161K	$237K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$106K	$161K	$237K	105	None ✓
Meridian, ID	$106K	$161K	$237K	105	5.8%
Arlington, TX	$105K	$160K	$235K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$105K	$160K	$235K	91	None ✓
McKinney, TX	$105K	$160K	$235K	108	None ✓
Carrollton, TX	$105K	$160K	$234K	102	None ✓
Tampa, FL	$105K	$160K	$235K	102	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$105K	$160K	$235K	100	2.5%
Scottsdale, AZ	$105K	$160K	$235K	118	2.5%
Savannah, GA	$105K	$160K	$235K	92	5.75%
Charlotte, NC	$105K	$160K	$235K	100	4.75%
Raleigh, NC	$105K	$160K	$235K	102	4.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$105K	$160K	$235K	98	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$105K	$160K	$235K	102	None ✓
Detroit, MI	$105K	$160K	$235K	82	4.25%
Las Vegas, NV	$105K	$160K	$235K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$105K	$160K	$234K	102	6.75%
Denton, TX	$104K	$158K	$233K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$104K	$158K	$233K	100	9.3%
Cape Coral, FL	$104K	$158K	$233K	100	None ✓
Peoria, AZ	$104K	$158K	$233K	100	2.5%
Rochester, MN	$104K	$158K	$233K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$104K	$158K	$233K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$104K	$158K	$233K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$104K	$158K	$233K	100	6.6%
San Antonio, TX	$103K	$157K	$230K	87	None ✓
Albany, NY	$103K	$157K	$231K	98	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$103K	$157K	$230K	93	None ✓
Orlando, FL	$103K	$157K	$230K	100	None ✓
Port St. Lucie, FL	$103K	$157K	$231K	98	None ✓
Chandler, AZ	$103K	$157K	$230K	105	2.5%
Durham, NC	$103K	$157K	$230K	100	4.75%
Chesapeake, VA	$103K	$157K	$231K	98	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$103K	$157K	$230K	98	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$103K	$157K	$230K	82	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$103K	$157K	$230K	90	3.07%
Kansas City, MO	$103K	$157K	$230K	90	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$103K	$157K	$230K	88	3.23%
North Las Vegas, NV	$103K	$157K	$231K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$103K	$157K	$231K	98	4.85%
Provo, UT	$103K	$157K	$230K	100	4.85%
Orem, UT	$103K	$157K	$231K	98	4.85%
Charleston, SC	$103K	$157K	$230K	105	6.5%
Nampa, ID	$103K	$157K	$231K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$103K	$157K	$231K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$103K	$157K	$231K	98	7.15%
Bakersfield, CA	$102K	$156K	$229K	95	9.3%
Aurora, IL	$102K	$156K	$229K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$102K	$156K	$229K	95	2.5%
Norfolk, VA	$102K	$156K	$229K	95	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$102K	$156K	$229K	95	5.75%
Allentown, PA	$102K	$156K	$229K	95	3.07%
North Charleston, SC	$102K	$156K	$229K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$101K	$154K	$226K	92	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$101K	$154K	$226K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$101K	$154K	$226K	98	2.5%
Athens, GA	$101K	$154K	$226K	92	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$101K	$154K	$226K	90	3.99%
St. Louis, MO	$101K	$154K	$226K	86	5.3%
Milwaukee, WI	$101K	$154K	$226K	90	5.3%
Madison, WI	$101K	$154K	$226K	102	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$101K	$154K	$226K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$101K	$154K	$226K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$101K	$154K	$226K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$100K	$153K	$225K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$100K	$153K	$225K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$100K	$153K	$225K	90	4.95%
Sterling Heights, MI	$100K	$153K	$225K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$100K	$153K	$225K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$100K	$153K	$225K	90	2.5%
Pasadena, TX	$100K	$152K	$223K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$100K	$152K	$223K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$100K	$152K	$223K	102	9.3%
Syracuse, NY	$100K	$152K	$223K	88	6.85%
Gainesville, FL	$100K	$152K	$223K	88	None ✓
Colorado Springs, CO	$100K	$152K	$223K	102	4.55%
Greensboro, NC	$100K	$152K	$223K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$100K	$152K	$223K	88	None ✓
Green Bay, WI	$100K	$152K	$223K	88	5.3%
Louisville, KY	$100K	$152K	$223K	85	5%
Lexington, KY	$100K	$152K	$223K	88	5%
Huntsville, AL	$100K	$152K	$223K	88	5%
New Orleans, LA	$100K	$152K	$223K	92	6%
Omaha, NE	$100K	$152K	$223K	88	5.84%
Great Falls, MT	$100K	$152K	$223K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$100K	$152K	$223K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$100K	$152K	$223K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$100K	$152K	$223K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$100K	$152K	$223K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$99K	$150K	$221K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$99K	$150K	$221K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$99K	$150K	$221K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$99K	$150K	$221K	85	4.75%
Cincinnati, OH	$99K	$150K	$221K	88	3.99%
Warren, MI	$99K	$150K	$221K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$99K	$150K	$221K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$99K	$150K	$221K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$99K	$150K	$221K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$99K	$150K	$221K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$99K	$150K	$221K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$99K	$150K	$221K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$99K	$150K	$221K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$99K	$150K	$221K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$98K	$149K	$219K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$98K	$149K	$219K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$98K	$149K	$219K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$98K	$149K	$219K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$98K	$149K	$219K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$98K	$149K	$219K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$98K	$149K	$219K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$98K	$149K	$219K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$98K	$149K	$219K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$98K	$149K	$219K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$98K	$149K	$219K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$97K	$148K	$217K	80	None ✓
Rockford, IL	$97K	$148K	$217K	80	4.95%
Macon, GA	$97K	$148K	$217K	80	5.75%
Akron, OH	$97K	$148K	$217K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$97K	$148K	$217K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$97K	$148K	$217K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$97K	$148K	$217K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$97K	$148K	$217K	80	3.23%
Bowling Green, KY	$97K	$148K	$217K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$97K	$148K	$217K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$97K	$148K	$217K	80	4.75%
Las Cruces, NM	$97K	$148K	$217K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$97K	$148K	$217K	80	5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$97K	$147K	$216K	84	None ✓
Abilene, TX	$96K	$147K	$215K	78	None ✓
Rochester, NY	$97K	$147K	$216K	90	6.85%
Spokane, WA	$97K	$147K	$216K	95	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$96K	$147K	$215K	78	3.99%
Grand Rapids, MI	$97K	$147K	$216K	90	4.25%
Evansville, IN	$96K	$147K	$215K	78	3.23%
Baton Rouge, LA	$97K	$147K	$216K	88	6%
Shreveport, LA	$96K	$147K	$215K	78	6%
Des Moines, IA	$97K	$147K	$216K	88	4.82%
Jackson, MS	$96K	$147K	$215K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$96K	$147K	$215K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$95K	$145K	$213K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$95K	$145K	$213K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$95K	$145K	$213K	75	6.5%
El Paso, TX	$95K	$144K	$212K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$95K	$144K	$212K	88	6.85%
Cleveland, OH	$95K	$144K	$212K	82	3.99%
Birmingham, AL	$95K	$144K	$212K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$95K	$144K	$212K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$95K	$144K	$212K	82	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$95K	$144K	$212K	82	5.7%
Lubbock, TX	$92K	$141K	$207K	78	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$92K	$141K	$207K	90	2.5%
Knoxville, TN	$92K	$141K	$207K	85	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$92K	$141K	$207K	80	4.75%
Albuquerque, NM	$92K	$141K	$207K	88	5.9%
Little Rock, AR	$92K	$141K	$207K	82	4.9%
Laredo, TX	$89K	$136K	$200K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $160K Airline Pilot salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Airline Pilot Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Airline Pilot is $160,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $105,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $235,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Airline Pilots nationally earn $330,000+.

Education and requirements

Bachelor's; ATP certificate; 1,500 flight hours. This role is 0% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Airline Pilot compensation is growing at 5.2% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate. Demand for qualified Airline Pilots significantly outpaces supply in most major metros.

Airline Pilot salary FAQ

How much does a Airline Pilot make?

The median Airline Pilot salary in the US is $160,000 per year — about $77/hour. Most earn between $105,000 (25th percentile) and $235,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Airline Pilot?

Entry-level Airline Pilot positions typically start around $105,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Airline Pilots earn?

The top 10% of Airline Pilots earn $330,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Airline Pilots the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Airline Pilot salary at $216K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Airline Pilot salaries going up?

Yes — Airline Pilot pay is growing about 5.2% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Airline Pilot Salaryby City (2026)