How much does a Pilot make in Wisconsin?

BLS publishes no Wisconsin figure; the US average Pilot pay is $288,650 a year (BLS, May 2025). On that pay in Wisconsin, after federal taxes, FICA, and Wisconsin state taxes, your estimated take-home pay is approximately $193,408 annually ($16,117/month).

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

On a $288,650 salary in Wisconsin, your take-home pay is approximately $193,408/year or $16,117/month. Federal tax: $64,162. State tax: $14,658. FICA: $16,422.

Is $288,650 a good Pilot salary?

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

How do Wisconsin taxes affect Pilot salaries?

Wisconsin levies state income tax on top of federal taxes. Your estimated state tax on $288,650 is $14,658. Your total effective tax rate is approximately 33.0%.

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 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin (2026)

Average Pilot pay in the US

$288,650/year

≈ $139/hour before tax

BLS publishes no Wisconsin figure; US average shown.

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

After tax (single filer)

$193,408/year

$16,117/month · effective tax rate 33.0%

Federal $64,162
State $14,658
FICA $16,422
Take-home

Pay by role in Wisconsin

Mainline Captain (Off-Base, WI-resident)$295,000–$465,000+ TC
Mainline First Officer (Off-Base)$92,000–$215,000
Air Wisconsin Captain (Appleton HQ)$135,000–$235,000
Air Wisconsin First Officer$58,000–$118,000
FedEx / UPS Cargo Captain (MKE)$285,000–$465,000+ TC
Corporate / Charter Pilot (Senior)$115,000–$215,000

See all 10 roles with notes

See the full tax breakdown

Category	Amount
Annual Take-Home Pay	$193,408
Monthly Take-Home Pay	$16,117
Biweekly Take-Home Pay	$7,439
Hourly Take-Home Pay based on 2,080 hrs/year	$93/hr
Federal Tax	$64,162
State Tax	$14,658
FICA Taxes	$16,422
Effective Tax Rate total taxes ÷ gross salary	33.0%

Estimates only — not tax advice. · Full disclaimer →

Not all Pilots earn the same — not even close

Wisconsin's pilot market is anchored by General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) Milwaukee (Frontier Airlines focus city + Southwest + Sun Country + Delta + American + United operations), Air Wisconsin Airlines HQ Appleton (~600 mainline + regional pilots flying CRJ-200 as United Express + American Eagle regional carrier), Sun Country Airlines Milwaukee + Madison operations, FedEx + UPS cargo MKE, plus GE Aviation Oak Creek (engine testing + flight ops) and substantial corporate flight departments at Northwestern Mutual + Johnson Controls + Kohler + Fiserv + Harley-Davidson.

Mainline Captain (Off-Base, WI-resident)

$295,000–$465,000+ TC

WI-resident pilots commuting to ATL/DFW/IAD/ORD/MSP · 49 USC 40116 preemption applies · WI 7.65% top

Mainline First Officer (Off-Base)

$92,000–$215,000

WI-resident FO at major carriers · post-2024 contract base pay reset

Air Wisconsin Captain (Appleton HQ)

$135,000–$235,000

Air Wisconsin Appleton · CRJ-200 regional · United Express + American Eagle agreements

Air Wisconsin First Officer

$58,000–$118,000

Air Wisconsin FO · CRJ-200 regional · entry-to-senior FO band · flow-through agreements

FedEx / UPS Cargo Captain (MKE)

$285,000–$465,000+ TC

FedEx + UPS MKE cargo operations · widebody freighter · cargo carrier scale

Corporate / Charter Pilot (Senior)

$115,000–$215,000

NM corporate flight · Johnson Controls + Kohler + Harley-Davidson corporate · Gulfstream G650 premium

GE Aviation Test Pilot (Oak Creek)

$135,000–$235,000

GE Aviation Oak Creek engine test pilot · GE9X + GEnx + LEAP engine flight test

Frontier Captain (MKE Focus City)

$215,000–$345,000

Frontier Airlines MKE focus city · A320/A321 ULCC operations · post-2022 contract pay reset

Regional Cargo / Pt. 135 Pilot

$72,000–$155,000

Part 135 charter · GoJet + Compass + Air Wisconsin · regional carrier presence

Flight Instructor (CFI / CFII)

$52,000–$88,000

UW-Oshkosh Aviation + Fox Valley Tech + EAA AirVenture Oshkosh networks · path to regional/cargo

Worth knowing: Air Wisconsin Airlines HQ Appleton is the country's largest regional airline HQ'd in WI and a feature most national pilot-career surveys understate for the state. Air Wisconsin (founded 1965 in Appleton, ~600 pilots + ~1,800 employees, operates CRJ-200 regional jet fleet) operates as United Express + American Eagle regional carrier serving United + American mainline networks under capacity purchase agreements — Air Wisconsin pilots benefit from flow-through agreements that provide priority hiring at parent mainline carriers (currently American Airlines after the 2023+ American Air Wisconsin flow agreement). Senior Air Wisconsin captains clear $135-235K TC. 49 USC 40116(f)(2) federal preemption routes airline pilot wages through legal-residence-state taxation only — WI-resident pilots flying any major US carrier (Delta MSP, American DFW, United ORD, Southwest MDW, FedEx Memphis) pay only WI's 7.65% top bracket on senior captain TC. WI's top bracket is appreciably lower than MN's 9.85% — for a senior MSP-based Delta captain at $385K TC who lives in WI rather than MN, WI residency saves ~$8-9K/year vs MN residency at top brackets. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh (annual aviation gathering, ~10K aircraft + ~600K attendees, the world's largest aviation event) anchors WI aviation community. WI is decisively second-tier as pilot tax-residency vs SD/FL/NV (0% income tax) but substantially better than MN (9.85% top) — supporting WI relocation appeal for senior MSP-based pilots.

Sources & Methodology

Salary figures are market estimates for Pilots in Wisconsin and vary by employer, specialty, seniority, and metro. Take-home math assumes a single filer with no dependents, the standard deduction, and Wisconsin 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