Pilot Salary in Tennessee (2026)
The average Pilot in Tennessee earns around $180,000/year. After taxes, your estimated take-home is $134,296/year ($11,191/month).
Take-Home Pay Breakdown
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
Annual Take-Home Pay | $134,296 |
Monthly Take-Home Pay | $11,191 |
Biweekly Take-Home Pay | $5,165 |
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year | $65/hr |
Federal Tax | $31,934 |
State Tax | $0 |
FICA Taxes | $13,770 |
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary | 25.39% |
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Pilot Salary Ranges in Tennessee
Not all Pilots earn the same — not even close
TN pilot careers split across four coherent tracks. Major airline pilots (Delta + American + United + Southwest + JetBlue + Alaska + Spirit + Frontier) leveraging 49 USC 40116 + TN 0% income tax regardless of hub base. Cargo pilots (FedEx Express Memphis HQ + UPS Memphis sort hub) is the TN-distinctive specialty no other US market matches. Regional (SkyWest + Republic + Mesa + Endeavor + PSA + Envoy) carries the new-FO pipeline. Corporate + military + GA (Pilot Flying J + TN ANG + Fort Campbell) rounds out senior tracks.
Senior Captain (Wide-Body International)
$485,000–$885,000+
Delta 777/787 + American 777/787 + United 777/787/747 + FedEx MD-11 + UPS 747-8 · 18-25+ yrs · ALPA seniority
Captain (Narrow-Body Major)
$385,000–$585,000
Delta 737/A220/A319-A321 + American 737/A319-A321 + United 737 + Southwest 737 · 15-25 yrs · ALPA
FedEx Express Captain (Wide-Body Cargo)
$385,000–$685,000
FedEx Memphis WH · MD-11 + 777F + 767F · 15-25 yrs · international long-haul · ALPA
UPS Captain (Wide-Body Cargo)
$485,000–$785,000
UPS Louisville WH + Memphis sort hub · 747-8F + 757F + MD-11 · 15-25 yrs · IPA
Senior FO (Major, Year 10+)
$285,000–$385,000
Delta / American / United / Southwest · 10-15 yrs · wide-body FO pre-captain upgrade
FO (Major, Year 5-9)
$235,000–$345,000
Delta / American / United / Southwest · 5-9 yrs · narrow-body FO at carrier hub
New FO (Major Carrier)
$145,000–$235,000
Delta / American / United / Southwest · 1-4 yrs · post-regional 6+ yr pipeline
Regional Airline FO / Captain
$78,000–$185,000
SkyWest + Republic + Mesa + Endeavor + PSA + Envoy · 0-10 yrs · regional bridge to major
Corporate + GA Pilot
$95,000–$215,000
Pilot Flying J fleet · Volunteer State Aviation · charter + Part 135 + corporate captain
TN ANG / Fort Campbell Army Aviation
$115,000–$185,000 + pension
Memphis ANG 164th Airlift Wing · Fort Campbell Army Aviation KY border
Worth knowing: 49 USC 40116 federal preemption is the TN-distinctive tax advantage for airline pilots. Federal statute prohibits any state from taxing air carrier employee wages unless the employee resides there OR earns more than 50% of comp in that single state. Pilots fly across 10-30+ states per year — no single state exceeds 50%. TN-resident pilots flying out of Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Charlotte, or any other hub pay only TN's 0% state income tax. Senior captains at $485-885K save $39-71K vs CA or $36-66K vs NY by establishing TN residency. This drives senior captain inflow to Brentwood + Franklin + Williamson County + Memphis MSA. Other 0% states (TX, FL, NV, WA) compete, but TN's 0.71% property tax beats TX's 1.6-2.5%.
The TN pilot market — 49 USC 40116 preemption + 0% income tax, FedEx Memphis + UPS hubs, Southwest BNA, plus carrier-hub mobility
0%
TN state income tax — full airline comp tax-free regardless of hub base under 49 USC 40116
~5K
FedEx Express Memphis World Hub pilots — largest US cargo airline bench
49 USC §40116
Federal preemption rule — taxes pilots only by residence state if <50% work in any one state
$25-80K+
Annual tax savings for TN-resident senior captains vs CA / NY / OR residency at equivalent comp
Licensed airline pilots are exempt under the Air Carrier Pilot exemption (29 CFR §541.5d). Pilot work hours, duty time, and rest requirements are governed by FAA flight + duty time regs (FAR Part 117). Compensation combines block-hour pay + per-diem + override + match + defined-benefit pension contributions (FedEx + UPS + ALPA-carrier majors).
49 USC 40116 federal preemption is the TN-distinctive pilot tax advantage. Federal statute prohibits states from taxing air carrier employee wages unless the employee resides there OR earns more than 50% of comp in that single state. Pilots fly across 10-30+ states per year — no single state exceeds 50%. TN-resident pilots flying out of any US hub (ATL, DFW, ORD, CLT, JFK) pay only TN's 0% state income tax.
TN tax-residency value at senior captain levels. Senior wide-body international captain at $685K saves $54,800 vs CA's 8.0% blended, $51,400 vs NY's 7.5%, or $47,600 vs OR's 9.9% top. Over a 15-20 yr captain career, TN-vs-CA compounds to $800K-$1.2M+ in after-tax wealth retention. Senior captains routinely relocate to TN — Brentwood, Franklin, Williamson County, East Memphis are pilot-relocation magnet markets.
FedEx Express World HQ Memphis is the largest US cargo airline pilot bench — ~5K pilots at FedEx Memphis World Hub. Senior FedEx captains on MD-11 + 777F + 767F wide-body international clear $585-785K+ cash + per-diem + ALPA pension. FedEx Memphis pilot relocation to East Memphis suburbs is common — TN tax-residency optimization + 12-month seniority bidding rotation enables Memphis-based pilots to commute via deadhead.
UPS Memphis sort hub + UPS Louisville Worldport (KY border) is the second TN-adjacent cargo specialty. UPS Captain on 747-8F + 757F + MD-11 clears $485-785K cash + IPA pension. Combined FedEx Memphis + UPS Memphis + Louisville cargo pilot bench is ~7K pilots — the largest US cargo aviation cluster.
BNA Nashville growing focus city. Southwest (~250). American (~120). Delta + United + JetBlue BNA growing post-2020. Nashville cluster (Brentwood, Franklin, Mt Juliet, Lebanon, Murfreesboro) supports BNA-based + commuter pilots flying ATL / DFW / ORD / CLT.
Regional + corporate + military + GA round out the corridor. SkyWest + Republic + Mesa + Endeavor + PSA + Envoy regional bridge — TN regionals build the 1,500 hr + ATP minimums for major hire. Pilot Flying J corporate fleet. Volunteer State Aviation Center (Smyrna). TN ANG 164th Airlift Wing Memphis (C-17 + C-130). Fort Campbell Army Aviation (KY border, AH-64 + UH-60 + CH-47).
Tennessee as a pilot — 49 USC 40116 preemption + 0% income tax + FedEx Memphis + Southwest BNA + carrier hub commuter ecosystem
TN's 49 USC 40116 + 0% income tax is the TN-distinctive pilot career advantage. Senior captains earning $485-885K establish TN tax residency (Williamson Co, Mt Juliet, Lebanon, East Memphis / Germantown) and pay 0% regardless of carrier hub. Other 0% states (TX, FL, NV, WA) compete but TN's 0.71% property tax beats TX 1.6-2.5% and matches FL lower-counties without coastal hurricane insurance exposure.
FedEx Express World HQ Memphis is the largest US cargo airline pilot bench. ~5K pilots at FedEx Memphis World Hub. Senior FedEx captains on MD-11 + 777F + 767F wide-body international clear $585-785K+ cash + per-diem + ALPA pension. FedEx residential cluster in East Memphis / Germantown / Collierville / Mt Juliet (TN commute via deadhead). 12-month seniority bidding rotation enables Memphis-based captains to bid international long-haul.
UPS Memphis sort hub + Louisville Worldport adds the second TN-adjacent cargo bench. UPS Captain on 747-8F + 757F + MD-11 $485-785K cash + IPA pension. Combined FedEx + UPS Memphis + Louisville bench is ~7K pilots — largest US cargo aviation cluster.
BNA Nashville growing focus city + commuter ecosystem. Southwest BNA (~250). American BNA (~120). Delta + United + JetBlue BNA growing post-2020. Plus TN commuter pilots flying ATL (Delta), DFW (American), ORD (United), CLT (American). Brentwood + Franklin are pilot-residential magnets — top schools + commuter-friendly to BNA + ATL.
How TN taxes work for pilots — 49 USC 40116 federal preemption + 0% state income tax + 0.71% property tax
49 USC 40116 federal preemption is the structural pilot tax advantage. Federal statute prohibits any state from taxing air carrier employee wages unless the employee resides there OR earns more than 50% of comp in that single state. Pilots fly across 10-30+ states per year — no single state exceeds 50%. TN-resident pilots pay only TN's 0% on their full airline comp regardless of carrier hub.
TN tax-residency value at senior captain levels. Senior wide-body international captain at $685K saves $54,800 vs CA's 8.0% blended, $51,400 vs NY's 7.5%, $47,600 vs OR's 9.9%. Narrow-body major captain at $485K saves $38,800 vs CA. Over 15-20 years, TN-vs-CA compounds to $800K-$1.2M+ after-tax wealth retention.
TN property tax ~0.71% effective — well below TX 1.6-2.5%. A senior wide-body international captain at $685K owning a $1.5M Brentwood / Franklin home pays ~$10,650/yr property tax vs $24,000-37,500 on Austin / Dallas TX. Property tax doesn't offset the 'no state income tax' savings the way TX does.
Establishing TN tax residency for 49 USC 40116 typically requires: TN driver's license, TN voter registration, TN home ownership (or year-lease), TN bank primary, no other-state homestead, plus physical presence demonstrating domicile (~183-day informal standard). Most pilots relocating from CA / NY / OR maintain Nashville-area or Memphis residency to satisfy the test.
- →Capture employer + pension before anything else. ALPA-carrier majors: Delta 9% non-elective + 5% match (14% effective), American 16% non-elective + match (most generous in US aviation), United 16% non-elective, Southwest 9.3% + 2-3% match, FedEx Express 8% non-elective + match, UPS IPA-bargained 11% non-elective. All genuinely generous vs other professions.
- →Max your ($24,500 in 2026) + at major carriers. §415(c) cap $72,000 (2026). Major airline 401(k) (Delta, American, United, Southwest, FedEx) offer after-tax 401(k) with in-plan Roth conversion. After 9-16% non-elective + employee $24,500, $35-45K room. At TN 0% + federal 32-37%, MBR converts $40K of after-tax space into perpetual Roth tax-free growth — highest-ROI move at $385K+ captain comp.
- →49 USC 40116 tax-residency optimization. Establish TN residency: driver's license, voter registration, home ownership (or year-lease), bank primary, no other-state homestead, physical presence demonstrating domicile. Most TN-relocating pilots from CA / NY / OR complete this within 6-12 months. Senior captains routinely save $40-80K+ annually via this optimization.
- →ATP + flight hour requirements. ATP requires 1,500 PIC hours + 250 cross-country + 75 instrument + 25 night + ATP-CTP course + exam. Major carrier hire 1,500+ hours + ATP + Part 121 dispatch + ~6 yr regional bridge. FedEx + UPS direct-entry cargo increasingly common.
- →Captain upgrade + seniority. Major carrier captain upgrade 8-12 yrs at carrier (seniority bidding). FedEx + UPS upgrade 5-8 yrs typical. Captain comp 50-75% above FO at equivalent base. Senior wide-body international captain at year 18-25+ clear $585-885K+.
- →Section 199A does not apply to airline pilot income. Independent corporate / Part 135 pilots operating as 1099 contractors below $201,775 single / $403,550 MAGI can claim QBI on consulting income, but most corporate pilots are W-2.
Three TN metros for pilots — Memphis FedEx + UPS, Nashville BNA + commuter to ATL / DFW / ORD, Knoxville McGhee Tyson + corporate
TN pilot residential geography splits by carrier + hub. Memphis is FedEx Express World HQ + UPS Memphis sort hub + Memphis ANG. Nashville is BNA Southwest + American focus city + commuter pilots flying ATL / DFW / ORD / CLT. Knoxville is McGhee Tyson + Pilot Flying J corporate + smaller bench.
Memphis (FedEx Express World HQ + UPS Memphis + Memphis ANG)
Regional FO $78-145K · Major FO $235-345K · Captain narrow $385-585K · FedEx Captain wide-body $585-785K · ATC tower controller GS-13 + localityTN's cargo pilot core. FedEx Express World HQ Memphis (~5K pilots at FedEx Memphis World Hub). UPS Memphis sort hub. Memphis ANG 164th Airlift Wing (C-17 + C-130). MEM Memphis International. FedEx residential cluster in East Memphis / Germantown / Collierville. UPS Memphis pilots cluster in East Memphis / Cordova / Bartlett.
East Memphis ($425-825K SF mid-career FO / Captain), Germantown / Collierving ($550-1,150K family senior captain + wide-body international), Cordova / Bartlett ($350-650K family-stage), Midtown ($325-625K urban). Shelby County 1.31% effective property tax.
Nashville (BNA Southwest + American + Carrier-Hub Commuter)
Regional FO $78-145K · Major FO $235-345K · Captain narrow $385-585K · Wide-body international captain $585-885K+ · Pilot Flying J corporate fleet captain $185-285KTN's BNA growing focus city + commuter pilot residential. Southwest BNA crew base (~250, growing). American BNA crew base (~120). Delta + United + JetBlue BNA growing post-2020. Plus TN-resident commuter pilots flying ATL (Delta), DFW (American), ORD (United), CLT (American), JFK. Pilot Flying J corporate fleet captain.
Brentwood / Franklin ($750K-$2.5M family captain + senior FO + commuter pilot residential), Belle Meade / Forest Hills ($1.4-3.5M+ senior wide-body international captain), Mt Juliet / Lebanon ($475-825K Wilson Co family pilot), Murfreesboro ($425-685K Rutherford Co family). Davidson County 0.71% property tax effective.
Knoxville / East TN (McGhee Tyson ANG + Pilot Flying J + Volunteer State Aviation)
Regional FO $78-145K · Major FO $235-345K · Captain narrow $385-585K · Pilot Flying J corporate $185-285K · Air National Guard $115-185K + pensionEast TN's smaller pilot bench. McGhee Tyson ANG (now-deactivated, legacy residential cluster). Pilot Flying J corporate fleet (Berkshire Hathaway, ~750 travel centers). Volunteer State Aviation Center (Smyrna). TYS McGhee Tyson Airport (Delta + American + United + Southwest + Allegiant). Fort Campbell Army Aviation (KY border, ~6K aviation pilots + crew).
Sequoyah Hills / Westmoreland ($550-950K SF senior + commuter pilot), West Knoxville ($385-725K family-stage), Bearden ($325-625K established), Farragut suburb ($425-725K). Knox County 0.85% property tax effective.
The TN pilot career arc — regional through senior wide-body international captain
TN pilot careers typically start with private pilot certificate (Part 61 / 141) plus instrument + commercial + multi-engine + ATP-CTP. ~$50K cost (private through commercial) via Embry-Riddle satellite + community college programs + military pilot programs (Memphis ANG 164th Airlift Wing, Fort Campbell, USAF Academy). 1,500 PIC hr ATP minimum via CFI / Part 135 / Part 121 regional flying. Years 1-4 build hours.
Regional FO / Captain (years 4-10): comp $78-185K + per-diem. SkyWest + Republic + Mesa + Endeavor + PSA + Envoy regional bridge to major. Most pilots spend 4-7 yrs at regional before major hire. ATP + 1,500+ hours + Part 121 dispatch are prerequisites. Direct-entry cargo (FedEx + UPS) increasingly common post-shortage — bypasses regional bridge.
Major carrier First Officer (years 8-15): comp $145-345K cash + per-diem + + pension. Delta + American + United + Southwest + JetBlue narrow-body FO. Most TN-resident pilots commute to ATL / DFW / ORD / CLT major hubs via jumpseat / deadhead. FedEx Express + UPS direct-entry cargo FO comparable comp. Captain upgrade typically 8-12 yrs at carrier (seniority bidding).
Senior Captain (years 15+): Major narrow-body captain $385-585K. Wide-body international captain $485-885K+. FedEx Express wide-body $585-785K+. UPS wide-body $485-785K. Check Airman / Line Check / Standards Captain career path at majors. TN 49 USC 40116 + 0% income tax + 0.71% property tax — senior captains relocate to TN with $40-80K+ annual tax savings vs CA / NY / OR.
Where TN pilots live — Brentwood, Franklin, Belle Meade, East Memphis, Germantown, Cordova
TN pilots cluster by carrier + hub. Memphis FedEx + UPS to East Memphis / Germantown / Collierville / Cordova / Bartlett. Nashville BNA + commuter pilots to Brentwood / Franklin (Williamson Co family captain), Belle Meade / Forest Hills (senior wide-body international captain), Mt Juliet / Lebanon (Wilson Co commuter), Murfreesboro (Rutherford Co family). Knoxville smaller bench to Sequoyah Hills + Farragut. Carrier-hub commuter pilots fly jumpseat / deadhead from BNA / MEM / TYS to ATL / DFW / ORD / CLT.
Brentwood / Franklin (Williamson Co family captain)
20-30 min downtown · $750K-$2.5M family · top schools · captain + senior FO + commuter pilot residential
Belle Meade / Forest Hills (Senior wide-body captain)
5-15 min downtown · top-tier · $1.4-3.5M+ SF · senior wide-body international captain + FedEx captain
Mt Juliet / Lebanon (Wilson Co commuter pilot)
$475-825K SF · 25-35 min BNA · family-stage captain + Walking Horse country adjacency
Murfreesboro / Smyrna (Rutherford Co family)
$425-685K SF · 30-45 min BNA · family-stage pilot + Volunteer State Aviation Center proximity
East Memphis (Memphis FedEx + UPS captain)
10-15 min MEM World Hub · $425-825K SF · FedEx captain + UPS captain + ATC residential
Germantown / Collierville (Memphis family senior captain)
20-30 min MEM · $550-1,150K SF · top schools · senior FedEx wide-body international captain
Cordova / Bartlett (Memphis family FO)
$350-650K SF · 20-30 min MEM · family-stage FedEx FO + UPS FO + regional captain
Sequoyah Hills (Knoxville senior + Pilot Flying J)
5-10 min downtown · $550-950K SF · senior Knoxville pilot + Pilot Flying J corporate captain
TN pilot residential geography is structured by 49 USC 40116 + carrier hub geography. Carrier-hub commuter pilots fly jumpseat / deadhead from BNA / MEM / TYS to ATL / DFW / ORD / CLT / JFK — TN residency captures the full 0% state income tax benefit. Brentwood + Franklin + East Memphis + Germantown are the dominant pilot-relocation residential corridors.
Is this the right move?
TN for pilots — who it actually works for
Working in your favor
- +TN 49 USC 40116 federal preemption + 0% state income tax — saves $40-80K+/yr for senior captains vs CA / NY / OR; optimal US pilot tax-residency state
- +FedEx Express World HQ Memphis (~5K pilots) + UPS Memphis sort hub is the deepest US cargo pilot concentration
- +Southwest BNA + American BNA crew bases (~370 pilots, growing) plus carrier-hub commuter ecosystem via jumpseat / deadhead to ATL / DFW / ORD / CLT
- +TN 0.71% effective property tax beats TX 1.6-2.5% — substantial residential real estate savings at $1M+ captain home values
- +Brentwood + Franklin + East Memphis + Germantown are pilot-relocation magnet markets — top schools + commuter-friendly
Worth knowing before you sign
- −TN combined sales tax averages 9.55% (highest alongside LA) — regressive offset at regional FO + new major FO tiers
- −TN does not exempt groceries from sales tax (one of 13 states fully taxing food) — meaningful tax burden at lower tiers
- −Memphis-based FedEx + UPS captains bid international long-haul — 14+ day rotation cycles + 50% time-zone displacement is the lifestyle tradeoff
- −Pilot Flying J + Volunteer State smaller benches — Knoxville + East TN smaller pilot job market than Nashville / Memphis
- −TN tax-residency optimization requires careful domicile — misdocumentation risks CA / NY / OR claiming retroactive tax liability
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