Airline Pilot salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
An Airline Pilot earns a median of $232,140 a year in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $288,650. About 103,560 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $232,140
- Gross pay
- $8,928.46
- Federal income tax
- −$1,753.42
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$439.96
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$140.59
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $6,594.50
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $232,140
- Federal
- $45,589
- FICA
- $15,094
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $171,457
- Marginal federal rate
- 32.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Airline Pilot salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $618,090 | $476,310 | 8,770 |
| Idaho | $507,640 | $361,180 | 330 |
| Michigan | $428,570 | $330,480 | — |
| California | $353,900 | $310,190 | 10,670 |
| Kentucky | $350,950 | $302,340 | 6,260 |
| Colorado | $307,490 | $290,850 | 5,830 |
| Illinois | $293,490 | $316,140 | 6,460 |
| New York | $255,240 | $298,260 | 6,900 |
| Alaska | $232,140 | $249,460 | 1,350 |
| Washington | $229,900 | $298,560 | 3,450 |
| Arizona | $227,870 | $236,550 | 2,200 |
| Florida | $225,020 | $254,420 | 7,760 |
| Texas | $215,150 | $275,710 | 10,930 |
| Minnesota | $211,470 | $256,750 | 2,960 |
| Ohio | $204,170 | $222,540 | 1,550 |
| Connecticut | $199,870 | $282,160 | 80 |
| Nevada | $192,460 | $204,470 | 2,160 |
| Utah | $174,590 | $214,140 | 1,880 |
| Oregon | $173,190 | $209,040 | 750 |
| Indiana | $171,260 | $200,950 | — |
| Arkansas | $168,970 | $152,980 | 250 |
| Pennsylvania | $164,990 | $172,500 | 2,270 |
| Rhode Island | $164,880 | $186,560 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $151,540 | $148,500 | 2,240 |
| Maine | $147,930 | $195,680 | 40 |
| Kansas | $143,580 | $163,070 | 80 |
| Mississippi | $143,580 | $151,890 | 360 |
| South Carolina | $143,580 | $150,970 | 110 |
| Tennessee | $143,580 | $142,700 | 110 |
| Alabama | $136,990 | $155,520 | 360 |
| New Mexico | $136,990 | $141,570 | 50 |
| Oklahoma | $133,680 | $144,000 | 180 |
| Iowa | $131,730 | $144,660 | 100 |
| Nebraska | $131,650 | $156,450 | 60 |
| Louisiana | $120,740 | $144,220 | 150 |
| New Hampshire | $99,280 | $151,790 | 50 |
| Missouri | $97,680 | $110,610 | 120 |
Similar jobs
- Air Traffic Controller: $148,080
- Commercial Pilot: $123,220
- Ship Engineer: $109,530
- Captain: $92,460
- Transportation Inspector: $92,100
- Subway and Streetcar Operator: $86,380
- Locomotive Engineer: $81,410
- Railroad Conductor and Yardmaster: $78,000
BLS occupation: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 53-2011). Excludes the self-employed. BLS publishes annual pay only for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an Airline Pilot make an hour?
BLS reports annual pay only for this job: a median of $232,140 a year.
Which state pays airline pilots the most?
Georgia ($618,090 median), followed by Idaho and Michigan.
What is the salary range for an Airline Pilot?
The bottom 10% earn under $106,710 and the top 10% earn over $463,830 a year.
How much is $232,140 after taxes?
About $171,457 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $151,095 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.