How much do pilots make? How much can you earn as a pilot? Pilots are highly trained people who use aircraft, manage all aspects of the craft, and ensure that they are safe to fly. When looking at pilot salary and how much they make in the USA, there is one main factor – experience.
The salary for pilots in USA is not comparable to other countries such as Singapore, Australia or Canada. But there are certain factors that need to be considered before deciding the starting salary of a pilot including his experience, qualification and type of flying.
Starting Salary For Pilots In USA Overview
The first step in becoming a pilot is to decide if you want to be a commercial or private pilot. Commercial pilots fly for airlines, charters, and cargo companies. They’re required to have a license from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Private pilots can fly any plane they like as long as it meets FAA requirements and they have a valid license.
The average salary for a commercial pilot in the U.S. is $103,000 per year. However, this number varies depending on the type of plane you fly, the size of your company, and whether or not you’re employed by an airline or charter service. For example, some airlines pay their pilots between $100K and $120K per year while others offer as much as $150K or more! If you fly internationally (which means traveling to other countries), your salary will also be higher because it includes housing and living expenses during travel periods as well as bonuses for overtime work such as weekends or holidays when travel needs arise unexpectedly (such as last minute cancellations due to weather conditions).
A private pilot’s salary depends on where they live within their country because each country has different rules regarding taxes on income earned from working at home versus abroad; however
Overview of Pilots in the USA
A pilot job involves transporting passengers or cargo and performing rescue operations, among many others. The job is not an easy one but is satisfying as it provides a higher standard of living.
There are generally two kinds of pilots- airline pilots and commercial pilots. The job description of an airline pilot is to perform scheduled flights and transport cargo for a single organization. An airline pilot also decides flight routes, speed, takeoff, and landing according to the scheduling requirements. On the other hand, a commercial pilot works for multiple companies and performs various flight-related tasks.
As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary of an airline pilot in May 2020 was $160,970 in the USA. As for the commercial pilot, it was reported to be $93,300 in May 2020.
To become a pilot of either kind, you can begin your training in a military school or a flight school licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). After passing a series of physical, theoretical and practical tests, exhibiting your knowledge, skills and physical prowess in operating an aircraft you can become a licensed pilot.
Aspects that Decide Salary of Pilot in US
According to Payscale, the average airline pilot salary in the USA is $112,921 per year, and the average commercial pilot salary is $83,951 per year. Unlike other professions like that of a software engineer, the salary of the pilot in the USA is not paid on an annual basis. Instead, they are paid at an hourly rate. The income of a pilot can vary between $56,000 and $700,000 per year. This huge disparity is due to a variety of factors that decide a pilot’s salary. Let us understand what they are —
1. Years of Experience
Experience is a deciding factor in the salary of a pilot, similar to every other profession. A pilot’s experience is measured according to the hours they have flown. For example, a pilot with 1500 hours of experience can also be said to have two years of experience in the field.
Pilots generally have two titles. They are First Officer and Captain. As the years of experience increase, you can get promoted from a regional first officer to a regional captain. After regional, you can secure work in major airlines, and the same career path unfolds.
The salary of an airline pilot is influenced by the contracts the airline has signed with their existing pilots, whereas a commercial pilot might receive a job offer with a salary based on their years of experience.
2. Total Flight Hours
Flight hours are the base of a pilot’s salary. The salary is calculated according to the number of hours the pilot has flown, be it airline or commercial. Airline pilot earns more than commercial pilots, due to the scheduled flights they operate. That gives them regular pay, and the pay could be even higher if the flight time is longer, such as on international flights.
But this does not mean you can fly as many hours as you want in a year in a bid to increase your annual salary. Federal law in the USA does not allow you to fly more than 1,000 hours a year. This is done to prevent pilots from overworking and avoid accidents.
3. Airline
The type of airline you work for decides the hourly rate you offer. There are generally two types of airlines:
Major airlines: A major airline is an airline that generates a very high revenue of more than $1 billion annually. These airlines manage large aircraft, thus the hourly pay rates are higher. As of May 2021, there are 15 major airlines in the USA: Air Canada, Alaska, American Airlines, Allegiant, Cathay Pacific, Delta Air Lines, Emirates, Frontier Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Sun Country Airlines, United Airlines, and WestJet Airlines
Regional airlines: Regional airlines focus on servicing particular regions in the United States. They focus on the niche market that major airlines overlook and operate smaller aircraft with less than 100 seats. According to the Air Transport Association of America (ATA), this is one of the fastest-growing segments of the airline industry.
4. Aircraft Type
The type of aircraft you fly also affects your payscale. The general rule of thumb is larger the aircraft, the higher the hourly rate. This is decided during the time of hiring as you get to pick your schedule and choice of aircraft. Your seniority in this field opens up more options for you in the type of aircraft you want to fly.
Ways to Maximise Pilot Earnings in the US
The salary of the pilot in the US differs, and there is a wide scope of increasing your pay scale. This can be done in the following ways:
1. Capture Employment opportunities in States that pay better
Working in a state that contains the operations of major and regional airlines and heavy air traffic can provide better employment opportunities. As per Payscale, the following states pay higher than the national average annual salary:
- Chicago, Illinois – 34.1%
- Dallas, Texas – 32.5%
- San Francisco, California – 31.5%
2. Look into Seasonal Jobs & Tourism roles
Seasonal jobs and tourism roles can be a great opportunity for you to increase your annual income. Some tourist locations are only accessible by planes and, thus, need a pilot at all times. These roles pay well too and can be done alongside a full-time role elsewhere.
3. Seniority
The minimum requirement of becoming a first officer is flying 1,500 hours and completing the initial flight training period. Once these eligibility criteria are met, you can become a first officer. As you progress and gain more experience, your seniority increases and you can be hired for roles with higher influence in regional as well as major airlines.
4. Get Hired by a Major Airline
Major airlines are the big league players in the air travel segment. Working for a major airline can guarantee you a good pay package. However, in order to tap into opportunities with a major airline, you might need to gather experience and seniority with a regional airline.
Benefits of a Pilot in the USA
Becoming a pilot in the USA comes with the following perks:
- Paid housing
- Military leave
- Signing Bonuses
- Paid sick time
- Allowances
- Life insurance
- Vision insurance
- Disability insurance
- Dental insurance
- 401(k) matching
- Health insurance
- 401(k)
- Paid time off
- Childcare
Highest Paying Roles for Pilots in the US
The career path of a pilot revolves around the first officer (second-in-command) and captain. As your seniority increases, you move from the first officer to captain and from regional airlines to major airlines. The amount of pay depends heavily on seniority and the airline you are working for. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS), the national average salary for the highest paying pilot roles is as follows:
| Job title | Salary per year (In USD) |
|---|---|
| Military pilot | $113,708 |
| Government service pilot | $111,460 |
| Helicopter pilot | $93,300 |
| Agricultural pilot | $89,047 |
| Ambulatory pilot | $83,210 |
| Airline transport pilot | $72,961 |
| Flight instructor | $70,504 |
| Cargo pilot | $61,815 |
Top Recruiters for Pilots in the US
There are a number of airlines in the USA, both regional and major, that provide attractive employment opportunities. As per Indeed, these major cargo airlines provide the following average salaries:
| Recruiters | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) | $260,000 |
| United Airlines, Inc | $165,000 |
| Delta Air Lines Inc | $160,000 |
| American Airlines | $150,000 |
| JetBlue Airways Corporation | $138,000 |
