How much does a Pilot make in North Dakota?

BLS publishes no North Dakota figure; the US average Pilot pay is $288,650 a year (BLS, May 2025). On that pay in North Dakota, after federal taxes, FICA, and North Dakota state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $203,596 annually ($16,966/month).

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

On a $288,650 salary in North Dakota, your take-home pay is approximately $203,596/year or $16,966/month. Federal tax: $64,162. State tax: $4,470. FICA: $16,422.

Is $288,650 a good Pilot salary?

$288,650 is the BLS US average Pilot pay; BLS publishes no North Dakota figure (BLS, May 2025). The middle 50% in the US earn between $182,280 and $384,440.

How do North Dakota taxes affect Pilot salaries?

North Dakota levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $288,650 is $4,470. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 29.5%.

What are the career growth prospects for Pilots?

In the US, the top 10% earn over $463,830 and the bottom 10% under $106,710 (BLS, May 2025). 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 North Dakota 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 North Dakota (2026)

Average Pilot pay in the US

$288,650/year

≈ $139/hour before tax

BLS publishes no North Dakota figure; US average shown.

Source: BLS, May 2025 · Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

After tax (single filer)

$203,596/year

$16,966/month · effective tax rate 29.47%

Federal $64,162
State $4,470
FICA $16,422
Take-home

Pay by role in North Dakota

Senior Captain (Delta / United Hector commute)$215,000–$385,000+ bonus
Senior Captain (Minot AFB B-52H)$135,000–$215,000+ bonus
Senior Captain (Grand Forks 319th RW Global Hawk)$118,000–$185,000+ bonus
Senior Captain (Regional / Envoy / SkyWest)$135,000–$215,000+ bonus
Senior First Officer (Mainline / FAR commute)$165,000–$255,000+ bonus
Senior FO (Regional / UND Grad)$85,000–$145,000+ bonus

See all 10 roles with notes

See the full tax breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$203,596
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$16,966
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$7,831
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$98/hr
Federal Tax	$64,162
State Tax	$4,470
FICA Taxes	$16,422
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	29.47%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Not all Pilots earn the same — not even close

North Dakota's pilot market is anchored by University of North Dakota J.D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences Grand Forks (one of country's largest US collegiate aviation programs + ~2K aviation students + the substantial UND ATM Air Traffic Management + UND CFI + airline pilot pipeline + the substantial UND-FAA partnership), Hector International Airport Fargo FAR + Bismarck Municipal Airport BIS + Grand Forks International Airport GFK + the substantial Delta + American + United + Allegiant ND service, Minot Air Force Base Minot (~5.4K + 5th Bomb Wing B-52H Stratofortress + 91st Missile Wing UH-1N Iroquois ICBM transport + post-2024 MH-139A Grey Wolf transition), Grand Forks Air Force Base (~2.3K + 319th Reconnaissance Wing RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS + the substantial Grand Forks UAS pilot pipeline), the substantial Sanford LifeFlight + Essentia Air Care + the substantial ND medevac, plus the substantial ND agricultural aviation crop dusting + the substantial Bakken oilfield aerial.

Senior Captain (Delta / United Hector commute)

$215,000–$385,000+ bonus

Senior mainline captain commuting from FAR or BIS · narrowbody + widebody + flow-up

Senior Captain (Minot AFB B-52H)

$135,000–$215,000+ bonus

Minot AFB 5th BW B-52H Stratofortress · cleared TS/SCI + flight hour pay

Senior Captain (Grand Forks 319th RW Global Hawk)

$118,000–$185,000+ bonus

Grand Forks 319th RW Global Hawk UAS · cleared + ISR + RPA

Senior Captain (Regional / Envoy / SkyWest)

$135,000–$215,000+ bonus

Envoy + SkyWest + GoJet regional captain · transitioning to mainline · UND grad pipeline

Senior First Officer (Mainline / FAR commute)

$165,000–$255,000+ bonus

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

Senior FO (Regional / UND Grad)

$85,000–$145,000+ bonus

Regional FO at SkyWest + Envoy + GoJet · UND Aerospace grad pipeline

Senior Corporate Pilot

$155,000–$258,000+ benefits

Corporate pilot · the substantial ND private jet + Sanford + Doosan-Bobcat fleet

Senior Medevac / Ag Aviation Pilot

$108,000–$165,000+ flight pay

Sanford LifeFlight + Essentia Air Care + ND crop dusting + Bakken aerial

Senior UND Aerospace CFI / Faculty

$72,000–$118,000+ bonus

UND J.D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences · CFI + faculty + ATM training

New Pilot (CFI / Flight Instructor)

$42,000–$68,000+ hours

New CFI + flight instructor · building hours at UND + FAR + BIS flight schools

Worth knowing: UND J.D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences + Grand Forks AFB 319th Reconnaissance Wing Global Hawk dual-anchor is one of the country's distinctive concentrated US single-state collegiate aviation + UAS military pilot anchor and a feature most national pilot surveys understate for ND. UND J.D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences Grand Forks (one of country's largest US collegiate aviation programs + ~2K aviation students + the substantial UND Air Traffic Management ATM program + the substantial UND CFI Certified Flight Instructor production pipeline + the substantial UND airline pilot pipeline + the substantial UND-FAA partnership + the substantial UND Aviation Restricted ATP-CTP authority + the substantial UND post-2020 substantial aviation enrollment surge driven by pilot shortage + the substantial UND-Mesa Airlines partnership + the substantial UND collegiate restricted ATP 1000-hour reduction) supports substantial ND collegiate aviation pipeline. Senior UND grad regional + mainline pilots populate substantial US regional + mainline carriers. Grand Forks AFB 319th Reconnaissance Wing post-2010 transition from refueling to UAS + the substantial 319th RW RQ-4 Global Hawk UAS + the substantial Grand Forks UAS + the substantial Northern Plains UAS Test Site + the substantial UND-Grand Forks AFB UAS partnership. Minot AFB 5th BW B-52H + 91st MW + post-2024 MH-139A Grey Wolf transition + Hector International + Sanford LifeFlight + Essentia Air Care + ND crop dusting. ND flat 1.95%/2.5% top + ND RTW since 1948 anchor the ND pilot proposition.

Sources & Methodology

Salary figures are market estimates for Pilots in North Dakota and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and North Dakota 2026 state rates. Local taxes, insurance premiums, and pre-tax contributions will move your number — run the calculator for your own situation.

Run your own numbers