Flying is a rewarding career, in terms of job satisfaction and finances. Pilots have to go through intensive training to achieve this unique skill. But, how much does an airline pilot make? Pilots all over the world are paid well.
The average income for a pilot in the US is $134,630 annually.
Since there is a huge demand for commercial pilots, the average pilot salary is an excellent reason for considering the aviation career. It helps us decide whether this is a good career opportunity. The average wage for airline pilot is not like other professions, yet it is one of the desired employments. Aviation jobs tend to contain many benefits; responsibility, a lucrative salary, and prestige.
So let’s discuss how much do airline pilots get paid according to different factors-
Salary Breakup of Pilots
If you are newly graduated and working in a small operation, you can expect the average income for a pilot to be around $35,000 to $50,000 per year. However, the starting annual salary of a pilot working within extensive operations is $60,000 to $80,000 annually.
How much do pilots make a year depending on their experience level? First officers have a salary package of around $50,000 - $65,000 yearly after 6 years of experience. For those reaching the role of a Captain, their pilot yearly salary ranges from $80,000 - $100,000, working in medium-sized firms. However, the average pilot salary of individuals working with major operations is up to $200,000, per year.
1. Salaries Based on Experience
The average salary of a pilot depends on their years of experience. Pilots with a flying career of 5 to 10 years earn less than those with over 20 or more years of experience.
| Pilot Experience | Annual Salary |
| Pilots with experience <2 years | $70,000 to $90,000 |
| Pilots with experience of 5 to 10 years | $115,000 to $230,000 |
| Pilots with experience >10 | up to $250,000 |
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2. Salaries Based on Educational Qualification
To begin your training as a pilot, you need to qualify for a minimum of five GCSE subjects and two A-level subjects. Aviation training requires in-depth knowledge of physics and maths.
A graduate or postgraduate degree is not a compulsion. However, the more professional degrees one has, the more the annual salary of a pilot will be. Many degrees including aviation management, aircraft engineering or aviation technology can help boost your career.
How much does an airline pilot make depending on their qualifications?
| Qualification | Annual Salary |
| Certificate or diploma in aviation | $70,000 to $100,000 |
| Bachelor’s degree | $100,000 to $200,000 |
| Master’s degree | $150,000 to over $300,000 |
3. Salaries Based on Pilot Role
Pilots have multiple roles that come with their specific responsibilities. The annual income of a pilot is significantly influenced by this role. For example, private pilot jobs do not qualify you to earn to fly, but a commercial pilot license does.
A commercial aircraft is operated by two pilots – a captain commanding the plane, and a First Officer as a supporting role. Both the pilots work in turns; one has the operating role that controls the plane and the other does the paperwork and coordinates with the air traffic control.
During long-haul flights, there are often three to four pilots on the aircraft to ensure each gets their rest. All the pilots have to follow recurrent training after every six months.
The average wage for airline pilot according to the role is:
| Flight Duration | Role of Pilot | Annual Salary |
| Short-haul flight | First Officer | $50,000 to $65,000 |
| Short-haul flight | Captain | up to $100,000 |
| Long-haul flight | First Officer | $55,000 to $90,000 |
| Long-haul flight | Captain | $140,000 to $170,000 |
4. Salaries Based on Working Hours
Being a pilot, you have to work unusual hours. It’s not your typical 9 to 5 job. How much do pilots make a year also depends on their flying hours. A pilot works approximately 39 to 41 hours a week. This includes working days as well as weekdays and holidays.
The working days of a pilot also depend on the flying route and the company with which they are working. Typically, the annual salary of a pilot handling domestic aircraft will be less than that of those flying internationally.
Pilot Jobs
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5. Salaries Based on Location
How much do airline pilots get paid according to the location?
- Pilots in New York earn the most (compared to other US states), achieving an average of $184,801 per year.
- Then come those working in Florida, their pilot yearly salary is an average of $123,469.
- The average pilot salary in California is $106,344 annually.
- And, the annual income of a pilot in Texas is around $104,975.
Factors Affecting Pilot Salaries
How much does a pilot earn depends on various factors. Airline pilots earn based on flight hours or the flying routes. The income of pilots changes over their careers. Let’s have a look at the factors involved.
- Airline
- Pilot seniority or experience level
- Major versus regional airline
- Aircraft flown
Remember that the salary range is on the continuum – from lowest to highest. The change in salary applies to both passenger airlines and cargo airlines. Many international airlines pay premium salaries to their pilots to entice them to work or retain them. Employees are advised to review the hiring requirements of different airlines to compare salary rates between airlines.
Conclusion
Before knowing ‘How much does an airline pilot make?’, you should understand becoming a pilot comes with great responsibility along with personal commitment. It is a challenging task that requires substantial dedication and some financial backup which involves training. Recruitment companies that hire pilots include scheduled, chartered, and freight airlines. The airline industry is always full of job prospects, yet securing pilot jobs as an airline pilot takes time. Being a pilot is a progressive career path where your salary increases as you attain professional development.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much do pilots make in the UK?
There is a salary variation for pilots at different levels. Experience pilots who are first officers often earn between £36,000 and £48,000 in the UK. The starting pilot yearly salary of a captain ranges from £54,000 to £75,000. Pilots employed by larger airlines often earn around £97,000, sometimes reaching up to £140,000 and above.
2. How much do commercial pilots earn?
Airline and commercial pilots have different responsibilities and challenges. And, their salaries depend on many factors, like experience, role, aircraft type, etc. To understand more about the commercial pilot salary, you can check out the website.
3. How much is a pilot paid per month?
How much do airline pilots get paid monthly? On average, pilots’ monthly salary comes out to be $10,000 to $20,000 per month which is higher than the national average salary. Newly qualified officers have lower incomes than the Airline Captains, who enjoy the highest salaries.
4. How much do pilots make an hour?
The hourly average wage for airline pilot is $91 to more than $300. Entry-level positions start from a lower range while the average income for a pilot rises dramatically for experienced employees.
5. Do you need A levels to be a pilot?
It is not a compulsion, but you need an A-level or equivalent degree. Also, you must be above 18 and have a minimum Class 2 medical certificate to qualify as a pilot. You can also achieve a university degree in aviation or air transport. In A levels, you must have 3 subjects with grading, including A*, A, B or C.
