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The Global Insight

How much do pilots get paid each year?

Author

Emily Baldwin

Published Jan 09, 2026

Pilot salaries vary according the type of aircraft that they’re flying and how long they’ve been at an airline. The median annual salary for the pilot of a large jet is an impressive $121,408. For a small jet, the median annual salary is $104,219. Non-jet aircraft pilots make significantly less.

What is the highest paying pilot job?

Major Airline Pilots Earn the Highest Salary Regional Airlines versus Major Airlines. In the May 2019 report, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the range of salaries for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers from less than $74,100 a year, to the highest 10 percent earning more than $208,000.

What’s the average salary of a pilot per year?

Have you ever flown out of an airport and wondered what it would be like to be a pilot? With an average annual salary of $102,520, pilots earn a good living. Not just anyone can become a pilot, however.

What’s the average salary of a Southwest pilot?

Southwest Airlines will increase pilots’ salary by nearly 30% in 2020 according to their new contract. An average Southwest pilot earned $230,626 in 2015, so their pay is certainly above average. An average Southwest pilot earned $230,626 in 2015, so their pay is certainly above average.

When do pilots get the biggest salary increases?

Pilots experience the biggest salary increase in their first five years. This increase is often larger for first officers than for captains, and the largest jump in salary often occurs after a one-year probationary period. Nearly all first officers go on to become captains after several years of experience.

What’s the average salary of a British Airways pilot?

British Airways is one of the best airlines to fly for in terms of average salaries. Our calculations suggest that a long-haul pilot with plenty of experience could well reach the £150,000 mark. Even some low-cost airlines like Ryanair can pay their senior captains up to £100,000.