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.
US Average
$288,650
BLS, May 2025
Best State (Net)
$302,616
Georgia
Take-Home TX
$199,959
on $275,710 · No state tax
Job Growth
4%
Source: BLS, May 2025 · Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (SOC 53-2011)
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
US Pay Range
Pay percentiles for Pilots across the US (BLS, May 2025), with the estimated take-home in Texas.
Bottom 10%
$106,710
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$83,900
25th percentile
$182,280
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$135,854
Median
$232,140
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$171,457
75th percentile
$384,440
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$268,078
Top 10%
$463,830
gross/year
Est. take-home (TX):
$317,816
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
BLS average pay in each state (BLS, May 2025) and the estimated take-home for a single filer with no additional deductions. BLS publishes no figure for 13 states: they show the US average, marked "US figure", at the end of the table. Click any state for the full breakdown.
| State | Average Pay (BLS) | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|
| $476,310 | $302,616 | |
| $361,180 | $235,472 | |
| $330,480 | $220,478 | |
| $298,560 | $214,275 | |
| $316,140 | $209,640 | |
| $302,340 | $206,178 | |
| $275,710 | $199,959 | |
| $290,850 | $197,355 | |
| $298,260 | $193,761 | |
| $310,190 | $192,782 | |
| $254,420 | $186,084 | |
| $282,160 | $185,751 | |
| $249,460 | $182,827 | |
| $256,750 | $169,526 | |
15Arizona | $236,550 | $168,841 |
16Ohio | $222,540 | $159,470 |
| $204,470 | $152,219 | |
18Utah | $214,140 | $149,812 |
19Indiana | $200,950 | $143,728 |
20Oregon | $209,040 | $136,934 |
21Maine | $195,680 | $132,614 |
| $186,560 | $130,548 | |
| $172,500 | $123,874 | |
| $151,790 | $115,014 | |
25Kansas | $163,070 | $114,425 |
26Nebraska | $156,450 | $111,961 |
27Alabama | $155,520 | $111,331 |
28Arkansas | $152,980 | $110,368 |
| $151,890 | $109,739 | |
| $142,700 | $108,801 | |
| $150,970 | $107,554 | |
| $148,500 | $107,349 | |
| $144,220 | $105,889 | |
34Iowa | $144,660 | $105,296 |
35Oklahoma | $144,000 | $103,756 |
| $141,570 | $102,423 | |
37Missouri | $110,610 | $82,419 |
| $288,650US figure | $208,066 | |
| $288,650US figure | $208,066 | |
| $288,650US figure | $203,596 | |
| $288,650US figure | $195,735 | |
| $288,650US figure | $193,853 | |
| $288,650US figure | $193,408 | |
44Montana | $288,650US figure | $193,118 |
45Virginia | $288,650US figure | $192,283 |
| $288,650US figure | $191,150 | |
47Delaware | $288,650US figure | $190,356 |
48Vermont | $288,650US figure | $189,794 |
49Maryland | $288,650US figure | $186,857 |
50Hawaii | $288,650US figure | $186,259 |
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
$111,331
net
AlaskaNo state tax
$182,827
net
Arizona
$168,841
net
Arkansas
$110,368
net
California
$192,782
net
Colorado
$197,355
net
Connecticut
$185,751
net
Delaware
$190,356
net
FloridaNo state tax
$186,084
net
Georgia
$302,616
net
Hawaii
$186,259
net
Idaho
$235,472
net
Illinois
$209,640
net
Indiana
$143,728
net
Iowa
$105,296
net
Kansas
$114,425
net
Kentucky
$206,178
net
Louisiana
$105,889
net
Maine
$132,614
net
Maryland
$186,857
net
Massachusetts
$193,853
net
Michigan
$220,478
net
Minnesota
$169,526
net
Mississippi
$109,739
net
Missouri
$82,419
net
Montana
$193,118
net
Nebraska
$111,961
net
NevadaNo state tax
$152,219
net
New HampshireNo state tax
$115,014
net
New Jersey
$191,150
net
New Mexico
$102,423
net
New York
$193,761
net
North Carolina
$107,349
net
North Dakota
$203,596
net
Ohio
$159,470
net
Oklahoma
$103,756
net
Oregon
$136,934
net
Pennsylvania
$123,874
net
Rhode Island
$130,548
net
South Carolina
$107,554
net
South DakotaNo state tax
$208,066
net
TennesseeNo state tax
$108,801
net
TexasNo state tax
$199,959
net
Utah
$149,812
net
Vermont
$189,794
net
Virginia
$192,283
net
WashingtonNo state tax
$214,275
net
West Virginia
$195,735
net
Wisconsin
$193,408
net
WyomingNo state tax
$208,066
net