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Pilot Salary in Nebraska (2026)

The average Pilot in Nebraska earns around $219,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $153,599/year ($12,800/month).

Take-Home Pay Breakdown

CategoryAmount
Annual Take-Home Pay
$153,599
Monthly Take-Home Pay
$12,800
Biweekly Take-Home Pay
$5,908
Hourly Take-Home Pay

based on 2,080 hrs/year

$74/hr
Federal Tax
$41,384
State Tax
$9,232
FICA Taxes
$14,786
Effective Tax Rate

total taxes ÷ gross salary

29.86%
Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

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Pilot Salary Ranges in Nebraska

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

Nebraska's pilot market is anchored by Offutt Air Force Base Bellevue (~10K total workforce + the substantial USSTRATCOM Strategic Command HQ + the 55th Wing reconnaissance operating RC-135 Rivet Joint + Cobra Ball + Combat Sent + WC-135 Constant Phoenix nuclear sampling aircraft fleet + the substantial 55th Wing as country's largest US Air Force ISR mission HQ), Nebraska Air National Guard 155th Air Refueling Wing Lincoln (KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling unit + the substantial NE ANG-Lincoln based at Lincoln Air National Guard Base), Eppley Airfield Omaha (substantial commercial passenger operations + Omaha's primary commercial airport), Lincoln Airport, Berkshire Hathaway substantial corporate flight departments including BNSF + GEICO + NetJets (Berkshire-owned), Union Pacific corporate aviation, plus Werner Enterprises + Crete Carrier corporate aviation.

Senior Major Airline Captain (Wide-Body)

$355,000–$655,000+ TC

Senior 777/787/A350 Captain · ALPA scale + tenure · NE-based commuter via OMA + LNK

Senior Major Airline Captain (Narrow-Body)

$265,000–$485,000+ TC

Senior 737/A320 Captain at Delta + United + American + Southwest · OMA + LNK commuter base

Senior 55th Wing Pilot (RC-135 / WC-135)

$115,000–$185,000+ flight pay

RC-135 Rivet Joint + Cobra Ball + WC-135 Constant Phoenix Pilot · the country largest US Air Force ISR

Senior 155th ARW Pilot (KC-135 Lincoln)

$95,000–$155,000+ flight pay

KC-135 Stratotanker Pilot at NE ANG 155th ARW Lincoln · air refueling unit

Senior NetJets Pilot (Berkshire-owned)

$185,000–$355,000+ TC

NetJets · Berkshire Hathaway-owned fractional jet operator · the substantial NetJets Columbus OH base

Senior Corporate / Fractional Pilot

$155,000–$285,000+

Corporate flight departments + Berkshire + UP + Mutual + Kiewit + the substantial NE corporate aviation

Senior Regional Airline Captain

$165,000–$265,000+

Senior regional captain at Endeavor + Republic + SkyWest + PSA · OMA + LNK commuter base

Senior Flight Instructor / Check Airman

$95,000–$155,000+

CFI/CFII + Part 141 NE flight schools · ATP-CTP + Type Rating instructor · UNO Aviation

Senior Air Medical / HEMS Pilot

$115,000–$165,000+ TC

LifeNet of Nebraska + Med-Trans + Children Omaha Sky · NE HEMS + critical care transport

First Officer (Major Airline / Regional)

$95,000–$185,000+

FO at major airline OMA-based or regional · ATP + 1500 hr · transitioning to Captain track

Worth knowing: Offutt Air Force Base 55th Wing is the country's most distinctive concentrated US Air Force ISR pilot operations and a feature most national pilot compensation surveys understate for NE. The 55th Wing Offutt AFB (the country's largest US Air Force ISR mission + the substantial 55th Operations Group operating RC-135 Rivet Joint signals intelligence + RC-135S Cobra Ball ballistic missile telemetry intelligence + RC-135U Combat Sent ELINT + WC-135 Constant Phoenix nuclear sampling + OC-135B Open Skies + the substantial 55th Wing supporting USSTRATCOM nuclear command + control + the substantial 55th Wing global ISR deployments + the substantial 55th Wing post-2019 Offutt AFB March flooding recovery moving substantial 55th Wing aircraft + crews temporarily to Lincoln + Sioux City + Wright-Patterson + the substantial 55th Wing return to Offutt + the substantial Offutt-Lake McConaughy 55th Wing partnership + the substantial 55th Wing recruiting + training pipeline) supports substantial Air Force ISR pilot operations. Senior 55th Wing RC-135 + WC-135 pilots clear $115-185K+ flight pay. Nebraska Air National Guard 155th Air Refueling Wing Lincoln (the substantial NE ANG-Lincoln KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling unit + ~1K Lincoln ANG workforce + the substantial 155th ARW global air refueling mission supporting US Air Force + Coalition operations + the substantial post-2019 NE ANG 155th ARW Lincoln Air National Guard Base operations) supports substantial NE ANG pilot operations. The substantial post-USAF + post-USN NE pilot transitions to major airline + regional + Berkshire-owned NetJets + Union Pacific + Mutual + Kiewit corporate aviation supports substantial NE-based commercial pilot careers. Eppley Airfield Omaha + Lincoln Airport substantial commercial passenger operations + commuter pilot base. NE progressive 2.46-4.55% top by 2026 + NE RTW since 1947 + NE inheritance tax + lower NE cost of living anchor the NE pilot proposition. Pilot is an -exempt salaried profession + No Tax on Overtime federal deduction does not apply.

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