How much does a Pilot make in Iowa?

The average Pilot salary in Iowa is around $219,000 per year. After federal taxes, FICA, and Iowa state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $155,120 annually ($12,927/month).

What is the take-home pay for a Pilot in Iowa?

On a $219,000 salary in Iowa, your take-home pay is approximately $155,120/year or $12,927/month. Federal tax: $41,384. State tax: $7,710. FICA: $0.00.

Is $219,000 a good Pilot salary?

$219,000 is a strong salary for a Pilot — above the national median. In Iowa, demand for this role is active.

How do Iowa taxes affect Pilot salaries?

Iowa levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $219,000 is $7,710. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 29.2%.

What are the career growth prospects for Pilots?

4% growth through 2032 (about as fast as average). Related roles include: Airline Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Captain, First Officer, Corporate Pilot, Cargo Pilot.

How can a Pilot in Iowa reduce their tax bill?

Maximize your 401(k) contribution ($24,500 in 2026) to reduce taxable income. An HSA ($4,400 single / $8,750 family) adds further pre-tax savings. These strategies can save thousands annually — use our calculator to see your exact savings.

Transportation

Pilot Salary in Iowa (2026)

The average Pilot in Iowa earns around $219,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $155,120/year ($12,927/month).

Take-Home Pay Breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$155,120
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$12,927
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$5,966
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$75/hr
Federal Tax	$41,384
State Tax	$7,710
FICA Taxes	$14,786
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	29.17%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Want to model 401(k), HSA, or pre-tax contributions against your full salary? Open the salary calculator →

Got a year-end bonus, sign-on, or retention payout? See the bonus calculator →

Working overtime? The 2025 OBBBA deduction may save you up to $12,500 on federal tax. Open the No Tax on Overtime calculator →

Key terms:···

Pilot Salary Ranges in Iowa

Entry Level (0–3 yrs)

$100,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Mid Level (3–7 yrs)

$219,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Senior Level (7+ yrs)

$380,000

/year

See tax breakdown →

Not all Pilots earn the same — not even close

Iowa's pilot market is anchored by Des Moines International Airport DSM (the substantial Delta + American + Southwest + United + Allegiant + Frontier DSM service), Iowa Air National Guard 132nd Wing Des Moines (post-2017 132nd Wing F-16 → MQ-9 Reaper transition + the substantial 132nd Wing MQ-9 ISR + the substantial 132nd Wing post-2020 ISR Group), Iowa Air National Guard 185th Air Refueling Wing Sioux City (KC-135R Stratotanker + the substantial 185th ARW), Iowa Army National Guard 34th Aviation Brigade Camp Dodge UH-60 Black Hawk + AH-64 Apache, Collins Aerospace Cedar Rapids avionics, ISU Aerospace Engineering Ames (the substantial ISU Aerospace + the substantial ISU Iowa State Aerospace), the substantial IA corporate aviation, plus the substantial IA medevac (UnityPoint LifeFlight + MercyOne LifeFlight) + the substantial IA agricultural aviation crop dusting.

Senior Captain (Delta / American DSM commute)

$215,000–$385,000+ bonus

Senior mainline captain commuting from DSM · narrowbody + widebody + flow-up

Senior Captain (Iowa ANG 132nd Wing MQ-9)

$118,000–$185,000+ bonus

132nd Wing MQ-9 Reaper · cleared TS/SCI + ISR + post-2017 transition

Senior Captain (Iowa ANG 185th ARW KC-135)

$115,000–$178,000+ bonus

185th ARW Sioux City KC-135R Stratotanker · cleared + ANG

Senior Captain (Regional / Envoy / SkyWest)

$135,000–$215,000+ bonus

Envoy + SkyWest + GoJet + PSA regional captain · transitioning to mainline

Senior First Officer (Delta DSM commute)

$165,000–$255,000+ bonus

Senior mainline first officer · narrowbody + widebody · transitioning to captain

Senior FO (Regional)

$85,000–$145,000+ bonus

Regional FO · transitioning to captain band + mainline flow

Senior Corporate Pilot

$155,000–$258,000+ benefits

Corporate pilot · the substantial IA private jet + Principal Financial + Casey + Hy-Vee fleet

Senior Medevac / Ag Aviation Pilot

$108,000–$172,000+ flight pay

UnityPoint LifeFlight + MercyOne LifeFlight medevac + IA crop dusting

Mid-Career Pilot (5-10 yrs)

$92,000–$155,000

Regional or military pilot · transitioning to major carrier

New Pilot (CFI / Flight Instructor)

$42,000–$62,000+ hours

New CFI + flight instructor · building hours at DSM + Ames + Iowa City flight schools

Worth knowing: Iowa Air National Guard 132nd Wing Des Moines post-2017 F-16 → MQ-9 Reaper transition is one of the country's distinctive concentrated US single-state ANG MQ-9 ISR pilot anchor and a feature most national pilot surveys understate for IA. Iowa ANG 132nd Wing Des Moines (the post-2017 132nd Wing F-16 → MQ-9 Reaper transition completing one of the country's earliest US ANG MQ-9 Reaper transitions + the substantial 132nd Wing MQ-9 ISR + the substantial 132nd Wing post-2020 132nd ISR Group + the substantial 132nd Wing MQ-9 Reaper Block 5 + the substantial 132nd Wing post-2024 MQ-9 Reaper operations + ~1.6K 132nd Wing total + the substantial 132nd Wing AGE-2D 2 Distributed Common Ground System DCGS Iowa cleared intel) supports substantial IA cleared MQ-9 pilot work. Senior 132nd Wing MQ-9 captains clear $118-185K+ bonus. Iowa ANG 185th Air Refueling Wing Sioux City (the substantial 185th ARW KC-135R Stratotanker air refueling + the substantial 185th ARW post-2020 ANG operations) supports substantial IA KC-135 pilot. Iowa Army National Guard 34th Aviation Brigade Camp Dodge UH-60 + AH-64. Des Moines International + Delta + American + Southwest DSM + the substantial IA corporate aviation (Principal Financial + Casey + Hy-Vee fleet) + UnityPoint + MercyOne LifeFlight medevac + IA crop dusting ag aviation. ISU Aerospace Engineering Ames + Collins Aerospace Cedar Rapids. IA flat 3.8% + IA RTW since 1947 + IA inheritance tax repealed Jan 1 2025 anchor the IA pilot proposition.