Pilot Salary 2026 — Take-Home Pay by State
Pilots operate aircraft to transport passengers and cargo, navigating routes safely under FAA regulations across major airlines, cargo carriers, corporate aviation, and specialty operations.
National Median
$219,140
Best State (Net)
$166,770
Texas
Take-Home TX
$162,922
No state tax
Job Growth
4%
Key Facts — Pilot 2026
BLS median: $219,140 for airline pilots, copilots & flight engineers (BLS May 2023 OES)
1500-hour ATP minimum requires substantial flight training investment
Major airline seniority game means 8–15 years to senior captain
TX hosts AA HQ (Fort Worth) and Southwest HQ (Dallas) — major hubs
No-state-tax states (FL, TX, NV) attract pilots even when based elsewhere
Salary by Experience Level
Flight Instructor (CFI/CFII)
$65,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$54,408
Building hours toward ATP minimums
Regional First Officer
$90,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$72,145
Entry to airline career
Major Airline First Officer
$200,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$148,927
AA, UA, DL, FedEx, Southwest
Major Airline Captain (Wide-body)
$380,000
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$265,297
Senior captain with international routes
Specialties & Salary Premiums
| Specialty | Est. Salary | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Wide-body Captain (UA, AA, FedEx) | $482,108 | +120% |
| Cargo Pilot (FedEx, UPS, Atlas) | $394,452 | +80% |
| Corporate Pilot (Senior) | $317,753 | +45% |
| Helicopter (Oil & Gas, EMS) | $197,226 | -10% |
| Charter Pilot (Part 135) | $153,398 | -30% |
| Regional Captain | $219,140 | 0% |
Best States for Pilots — Real Take-Home Pay
Ranked by estimated take-home pay (single filer, no additional deductions). The highest gross salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.
▲Top 5 — Highest Take-Home
Pilot Salary by State — All 50 States
Take-home estimates for a single filer with no additional deductions. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Gross Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $225,000 | $166,770 | |
| $220,000 | $163,487 | |
| $230,000 | $160,640 | |
| $215,000 | $159,975 | |
| $230,000 | $159,324 | |
| $215,000 | $152,567 | |
| $215,000 | $151,905 | |
| $210,000 | $151,445 | |
9Utah | $215,000 | $150,407 |
10Illinois | $215,000 | $149,477 |
| $215,000 | $149,445 | |
| $220,000 | $149,019 | |
| $200,000 | $148,927 | |
| $200,000 | $148,927 | |
15Virginia | $215,000 | $148,373 |
16New York | $215,000 | $147,887 |
| $215,000 | $147,750 | |
18Hawaii | $220,000 | $147,406 |
| $195,000 | $145,200 | |
| $220,000 | $144,412 | |
| $200,000 | $142,787 | |
| $190,000 | $141,472 | |
23Michigan | $200,000 | $140,678 |
24Missouri | $200,000 | $140,464 |
25Ohio | $195,000 | $140,272 |
26Maryland | $205,000 | $137,972 |
| $200,000 | $137,677 | |
28Indiana | $190,000 | $135,897 |
| $190,000 | $132,949 | |
| $185,000 | $132,570 | |
| $190,000 | $132,006 | |
32Oregon | $200,000 | $131,171 |
33Alabama | $185,000 | $130,391 |
| $185,000 | $130,010 | |
| $185,000 | $129,072 | |
| $175,000 | $128,747 | |
| $170,000 | $127,461 | |
| $170,000 | $127,461 | |
39Oklahoma | $180,000 | $126,742 |
40Idaho | $180,000 | $125,864 |
41Kansas | $180,000 | $125,052 |
42Iowa | $175,000 | $124,840 |
43Vermont | $180,000 | $124,000 |
44Delaware | $180,000 | $123,757 |
45Nebraska | $175,000 | $123,620 |
46Montana | $175,000 | $122,352 |
47Maine | $180,000 | $121,946 |
| $165,000 | $117,536 | |
| $160,000 | $114,187 | |
50Arkansas | $150,000 | $108,412 |
Maximize Your Take-Home
401(k) — $24,500 max
Reduces taxable income dollar-for-dollar
HSA — $4,400 single
Triple tax advantage — deductible, grows tax-free, tax-free withdrawals
FSA — $3,300 max
Medical expenses with pre-tax dollars
State consideration
Moving to TX, FL, WA can save $5,000–$15,000/year in taxes
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home as a Pilot
Add 401(k), HSA, dependents, and more to see your personalized take-home in your state.
Open Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about your taxes and our calculator.
Pilot Salary by State — Detailed Pages
Alabama
$130,391
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$145,200
net
Arizona
$151,445
net
Arkansas
$108,412
net
California
$144,412
net
Colorado
$160,640
net
Connecticut
$137,677
net
Delaware
$123,757
net
FloridaNo state tax
$159,975
net
Georgia
$159,324
net
Hawaii
$147,406
net
Idaho
$125,864
net
Illinois
$149,477
net
Indiana
$135,897
net
Iowa
$124,840
net
Kansas
$125,052
net
Kentucky
$152,567
net
Louisiana
$132,570
net
Maine
$121,946
net
Maryland
$137,972
net
Massachusetts
$149,445
net
Michigan
$140,678
net
Minnesota
$149,019
net
Mississippi
$117,536
net
Missouri
$140,464
net
Montana
$122,352
net
Nebraska
$123,620
net
NevadaNo state tax
$148,927
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$141,472
net
New Jersey
$147,750
net
New Mexico
$130,010
net
New York
$147,887
net
North Carolina
$151,905
net
North Dakota
$128,747
net
Ohio
$140,272
net
Oklahoma
$126,742
net
Oregon
$131,171
net
Pennsylvania
$142,787
net
Rhode Island
$132,949
net
South Carolina
$129,072
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$127,461
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$148,927
net
TexasNo state tax
$166,770
net
Utah
$150,407
net
Vermont
$124,000
net
Virginia
$148,373
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$163,487
net
West Virginia
$114,187
net
Wisconsin
$132,006
net
WyomingNo state tax
$127,461
net