The salary of a pilot can vary depending on factors such as the airline they work for, their level of experience, and their location. According to, the average airline pilot salary for 2022 was $225,740, with some pilots earning in excess of $700,000. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median U.S. pilot salary at $211,790 in 2022. However, reports that pilots made a median salary of $134,630 in 2021, with the best-paid 25% making $208,000 that year, while the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $82,870.
also provides some sample salaries for airline pilots, including:
- Southwest Airlines pilots earn an average annual salary of $222,000, with some earning as much as $549,000.
- United Airlines pilots earn an average of $205,000.
- The average Delta Airlines pilot earns $192,000 with top-earners making $526,000.
- American Airlines pilots earn an average salary of $118,000, with some pilots earning in excess of $700,000.
- Qatar pilots average $173-187,000 annually.
- China Southern Airlines starts its pilots at $228,000 per year.
- The average Lufthansa pilot earns $102,000 annually.
reports that the average salary for a pilot in the United States is $106,242 per year, as of September 27, 2023. reports that the average Airline Pilot salary in the United States is $185,401 as of August 27, 2023, with a range typically falling between $166,401 and $206,601.
