What are Airline Pilot Salaries Like?

In the airline industry, the potential is there for high salaries, great benefits (including free travel) and the chance to be in command of an aircraft. For those who love to fly, this might sound ideal. But airline pilots face great competition as they try to break into the field. Pilots must undergo extensive training before becoming employed, and only a few will actually get positions with major airline carriers. For pilots who do get those coveted jobs, some seniority is required before earning the top airline pilot salaries. As shown in the chart on Airline Pilot Salaries by Years Experience, there is a huge difference between entry-level and more experienced airline pilot salaries. Pilots are also away from home for part of each month and extensive traveling can be tiring. Not that all ten-year-olds should put away their remote-control airplanes and start dreaming of life as a banker. On the contrary, if you're drawn to this profession, working as an airline pilot can be an exciting and rewarding career. Before enrolling in flight school, though, use PayScale's data on airline pilot salaries to make more informed decisions about your aviation career.

Airline Pilot Salary Data

Pilots are employed in a variety of industries, including the military. Not surprisingly, the chart on Airline Pilot Salaries by Industry shows that the salary for a commercial pilot is higher than airline pilot salaries in many other industries. View Airline Pilot Salaries by Employer Name to see which companies offer the highest airline pilot salaries. Another factor that has an effect on airline pilot salaries is location. Major hubs exist across the U.S., but researching median airline pilot salaries for different areas reveals major differences from one location to the next. The Airline Pilot Salaries by State chart shows that California and New York both offer relatively high airline pilot salaries. It follows suit, then, that the chart on Airline Pilot Salaries by City puts Los Angeles and New York toward the top of the list for high airline pilot salaries. Of course, both cities are also known for having a high cost of living. Use the PayScale Cost of Living Calculator to find data on Cost of Living and Airline Pilot Salaries in New York, Los Angeles and other cities.

Beyond Airline Pilot Salaries

For a different take on pilot salaries, be sure to read "Cabin Crew Salaries: Hot Air Balloon Pilot" over in the Salary Stories blog. It's the real-life story of "Captain Crystal" Stout, a professional hot air balloon pilot with 22 years of experience. Also, see how airline pilot salaries compare to helicopter pilot salaries.