The aviation industry has been in a state of flux recently, and pilot salaries are no exception. The airlines have made headlines because of an all out salary war between them. They are attempting to keep their workforce happy and attract new pilots in today’s constrained talent market. The pilot shortage is also driving up wages and reducing the duration from time-building jobs like flight instructor to the right seat in a turbine aircraft.
The media has covered what the airlines are paying pilots — or soon will be — but what is happening in the charter and corporate markets? We decided to look at the average salaries for these categories. But we also grouped the salaries by state to see the geographical differences of average pay. We use data collected by ZipRecruiter and published on their website.
There is a surprisingly wide disparity between the average pilots salaries at the top and the bottom of the list. Congratulations if you live in one of the well paying states. If not, you may want to consider this list prior to making a move.
Charter Pilot Salaries: The Data
We consider “charter pilots” to fly for Part 135 operators that provide services to the general public. While many corporate operators still follow Part 135 regulations, if they are not performing paid flights for the general public then they would not be considered charter.
The research shows:
- The national average salary for charter pilots is $102,243.
- The top 10% make above $144,000.
- The bottom 25% make below $52,500.
Charter Pilot Salaries by State
Top 5 States
1. Hawaii: $117,138 ($56.32/hr)
2. Nevada: $115,270 ($55.42/hr)
3. Massachusetts: $113,942 ($54.78/hr)
4. Rhode Island: $111,497 ($53.60/hr)
5. Oregon: $111,315 ($53.52/hr)
Bottom 5 States
46. Alabama: $80,072 ($38.50/hr)
47. Mississippi: $79,701 ($38.32/hr)
48. Florida: $75,422 ($36.26/hr)
49. Georgia: $73,668 ($35.42/hr)
50. Louisiana: $72,331 ($34.77/hr)
You can see in the data that there is a 35% difference between the average salary in the lowest and highest states amounting to $44,807. Clearly, your expected salary as a charter pilot can vary significantly based on where you work.
Search for your state or click the page numbers at the bottom to browse all states.
| State | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $117,138 | $56.32 |
| Nevada | $115,270 | $55.42 |
| Massachusetts | $113,942 | $54.78 |
| Rhode Island | $111,497 | $53.60 |
| Oregon | $111,315 | $53.52 |
| Alaska | $109,782 | $52.78 |
| North Dakota | $108,424 | $52.13 |
| Washington | $106,436 | $51.17 |
| New York | $104,069 | $50.03 |
| South Dakota | $103,974 | $49.99 |
| Maryland | $102,439 | $49.25 |
| Virginia | $99,569 | $47.87 |
| Kentucky | $98,455 | $47.33 |
| Colorado | $98,082 | $47.16 |
| Idaho | $97,714 | $46.98 |
| Delaware | $96,646 | $46.46 |
| New Hampshire | $96,399 | $46.35 |
| Nebraska | $96,118 | $46.21 |
| California | $95,991 | $46.15 |
| South Carolina | $95,642 | $45.98 |
| Vermont | $94,689 | $45.52 |
| Tennessee | $93,984 | $45.18 |
| Arkansas | $93,184 | $44.80 |
| Connecticut | $92,613 | $44.53 |
| Arizona | $91,925 | $44.19 |
| Illinois | $91,886 | $44.18 |
| Oklahoma | $91,844 | $44.16 |
| New Jersey | $91,636 | $44.06 |
| Michigan | $91,386 | $43.94 |
| Wyoming | $91,218 | $43.85 |
| Maine | $91,019 | $43.76 |
| Minnesota | $90,343 | $43.43 |
| Missouri | $90,069 | $43.30 |
| Indiana | $88,759 | $42.67 |
| Montana | $87,788 | $42.21 |
| West Virginia | $87,719 | $42.17 |
| Texas | $86,771 | $41.72 |
| Pennsylvania | $85,633 | $41.17 |
| Wisconsin | $85,297 | $41.01 |
| Ohio | $85,114 | $40.92 |
| Iowa | $84,339 | $40.55 |
| Utah | $83,816 | $40.30 |
| Kansas | $81,258 | $39.07 |
| New Mexico | $80,767 | $38.83 |
| North Carolina | $80,140 | $38.53 |
| Alabama | $80,072 | $38.50 |
| Mississippi | $79,701 | $38.32 |
| Florida | $75,422 | $36.26 |
| Georgia | $73,668 | $35.42 |
| Louisiana | $72,331 | $34.77 |
Corporate Pilot Salaries: The Data
“Corporate pilots” fly for a private individual or organization. They may follow either Part 135 or Part 91 rules, but their defining factor is that they are not holding out for hire by the general public.
Corporate Pilot Salaries by State
The research shows:
- The national average salary for corporate pilots is $81,249.
- The top 10% make above $130,000.
- The bottom 25% make below $55,000.
Top 5 States
1. Tennessee: $89,684 ($43.12/hr)
2. Hawaii: $87,034 ($41.84/hr)
3. Nevada: $86,019 ($41.36/hr)
4. Massachusetts: $85,709 ($42.21/hr)
5. Minnesota: $85,670 ($41.19/hr)
Bottom 5 States
46. New Mexico: $63,308 ($30.44/hr)
47. Alabama: $62,488 ($30.03/hr)
48. North Carolina: $60,743 (29.20/hr)
49. Florida: $58,859 ($28.30/hr)
50. Georgia: $57,490 ($27.64/hr)
There is a 36% difference between the average salary in the lowest and highest states amounting to $32,194. The data also shows that corporate pilots, on average, are making approximately $21,000 less than charter pilots. Corporate pilot salaries do come closer to a charter pilot’s as pay increases. The top 10% pay narrows to $14,000 less than charter pilots, and the bottom 25% is only $2,500 different. But, based on the data, a corporate pilot can expect to be paid less.
Search for your state or click the page numbers at the bottom to browse all states.
| State | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | $89,684 | $43.12 |
| Hawaii | $87,034 | $41.84 |
| Nevada | $86,019 | $41.36 |
| Massachusetts | $85,709 | $41.21 |
| Minnesota | $85,670 | $41.19 |
| Connecticut | $84,822 | $40.78 |
| Rhode Island | $82,624 | $39.72 |
| Oregon | $82,488 | $39.66 |
| Alaska | $81,924 | $39.39 |
| Washington | $81,822 | $39.34 |
| Ohio | $81,212 | $39.04 |
| New York | $81,070 | $38.98 |
| North Dakota | $80,486 | $38.70 |
| Utah | $79,158 | $38.06 |
| Iowa | $78,843 | $37.91 |
| Maryland | $77,849 | $37.43 |
| South Dakota | $77,183 | $37.11 |
| Virginia | $75,760 | $36.42 |
| Idaho | $75,306 | $36.21 |
| New Hampshire | $75,041 | $36.08 |
| Colorado | $74,218 | $35.68 |
| Kentucky | $74,214 | $35.68 |
| California | $74,060 | $35.61 |
| Vermont | $73,647 | $35.41 |
| Kansas | $73,473 | $35.32 |
| Delaware | $73,417 | $35.30 |
| Nebraska | $73,133 | $35.16 |
| South Carolina | $72,492 | $34.85 |
| Mississippi | $72,105 | $34.67 |
| New Jersey | $71,741 | $34.49 |
| Arizona | $71,737 | $34.49 |
| Wyoming | $71,109 | $34.19 |
| Arkansas | $70,404 | $33.85 |
| Maine | $70,327 | $33.81 |
| Oklahoma | $69,881 | $33.60 |
| Illinois | $69,422 | $33.38 |
| Indiana | $69,266 | $33.30 |
| Michigan | $69,178 | $33.26 |
| Louisiana | $68,587 | $32.97 |
| Montana | $68,510 | $32.94 |
| West Virginia | $68,338 | $32.85 |
| Missouri | $68,313 | $32.84 |
| Wisconsin | $66,867 | $32.15 |
| Texas | $66,805 | $32.12 |
| Pennsylvania | $66,712 | $32.07 |
| New Mexico | $63,308 | $30.44 |
| Alabama | $62,488 | $30.04 |
| North Carolina | $60,743 | $29.20 |
| Florida | $58,859 | $28.30 |
| Georgia | $57,490 | $27.64 |
The Takeaways
Whether you are looking to hire or get hired as a corporate or charter pilot, there is a major difference in average salary depending on where you work. Hawaii, Nevada, and Massachusetts appear are in the top 5 highest salaries for both roles. Alabama, Florida, and Georgia appear in the bottom five both times. Regardless of your role, you need to pay attention to your state’s average pilot pay as it may be very different than the national average.