Student Aircraft Builders Salary

As of September 2026, the average annual salary for employees at Student Aircraft Builders in the United States is $90,491. This translates to an approximate hourly wage of $44. Salaries at Student Aircraft Builders typically range from $79,668 to $102,234 annually, reflecting the diverse roles and experience levels within the company.
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Is Student Aircraft Builders’s Pay Competitive? Salary Benchmarking Analysis

How does Student Aircraft Builders's compensation stack up against the industry and its key competitors? Our salary benchmarking analysis provides a clear comparison. The chart below visualizes this comparison alongside select peer companies.
Competitor / Benchmark Avg. Salary Variance Primary Market Influence Factor & Explanation
LF Driscoll Co $102,885
+13.7%
Driven by niche technical certifications required for LF Driscoll Co's specialized projects.
Cortez Inc $89,595
-1.0%
Reflects stabilized pricing equilibrium for commercial construction roles in this region.
Pdcpages $88,097
-2.6%
Aligns perfectly with prevailing regional benchmarks for this specific job family.
Hy-Lang Electric California Inc $102,516
+13.3%
Reflects structural premiums typical of Hy-Lang Electric California Inc's large-cap national operations.
Construction Industry $119,814
+32.4%
Pay variances are driven by organizational scale, specialized skill requirements, or geographic cost-of-living factors.
Need More Granular Data? The analysis above provides a high-level market overview. To benchmark specific job codes, adjust for real-time cost-of-living changes, or access verified HR-reported datasets, upgrade to Salary.com for Business. Precision matters when building your compensation strategy.

Employee Reviews: Working at Student Aircraft Builders

Considering a career at Student Aircraft Builders? Explore authentic employee reviews to learn about the work environment, career growth opportunities, pay transparency and benefits. These first-hand insights can help you set realistic compensation expectations and make informed career decisions.
There are chances to travel and work on high-profile builds, which keeps things interesting. A stable company with consistent work and strong project management. Scheduling is tight and sometimes unrealistic. The company’s safety protocols are rigorous, and the culture promotes open communication, ensuring that every team member feels heard and valued.
The team communicates well, expectations are clear, and hard work never goes unnoticed. Everyone from engineers to tradespeople feels valued for their expertise. Overall, it’s a decent place to work. Team collaboration here is outstanding. Benefits are standard, and pay is competitive. Each project runs efficiently with excellent coordination among trades. The leadership is approachable, listens t...
Everyone knows what’s expected and delivers on time with quality craftsmanship and good communication. The variety of projects keeps the work interesting, and teamwork is genuinely emphasized. Recognition for hard work is frequent, which motivates me to continually improve. Contributing to projects that positively impact our communities and seeing the exceptional results of our collective hard wor...
Sustainability is embedded in our practices, reflecting the company’s commitment to responsible building. This makes it a place where people are proud to work and feel loyal to the construction team. Equipment is serviceable, and safety protocols are average.

Student Aircraft Builders Overview

Website
www.sab.ae.illinois.edu
Founded In
2013
Employees
100 - 200 employees
Industry
Construction
Headquarter Address
104 S Wright St Urbana Illinois IL 61801
Revenue
$10 Million - $50 Million
Phone Number
-
Social Media
About Student Aircraft Builders
Student Aircraft Builders (SAB) is a student-led organization that has been building airplanes since 2013. The organization was founded by students who, sharing a passion for aviation, decided to take on the challenge of building a full-sized airplane. Over the next year, these students were able to acquire all the resources necessary to start construction of a kit aircraft, the CH STOL Zenith 750

What Benefits Does Student Aircraft Builders Offer Beyond Salary?

A competitive compensation package is more than just a salary. Student Aircraft Builders offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your health, financial future, and overall well-being. Below are the most common key benefits:
Social Security
401(K)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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What Is the Cost of Living Near Champaign?

Understanding the cost of living near Champaign is key to truly evaluating a salary offer or your current compensation at Student Aircraft Builders.
Champaign's Cost of Living Index is approximately 89.8 (10.2% less expensive than US average; 4.3% less than IL average). Central IL (Univ. of Illinois), housing affordable. MTD bus. When planning your budget based on a salary from Student Aircraft Builders, consider these typical monthly expenses:
Expense Category Estimated Monthly Cost Key Considerations / Notes
Housing (1-BR Apt Rent) $800 - $1,250+ A significant portion of Student Aircraft Builders salary. Location choices impact this heavily.
Utilities (Basic) $150 - $240 Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water etc.
Public Transportation $60 (MTD monthly pass, free for UofI) Essential for most commuters; car ownership is costly.
Groceries (Single Person) $380 - $560 Can be higher with more dining out or specialty stores.
Personal & Leisure $330 - $630+ Dining out, entertainment, shopping. Highly variable.
Healthcare (Individual) $360 - $660+ Varies significantly by plan & employer contribution.
Subtotal (Excluding Taxes) $2,080 - $3,340+ This subtotal does not include income taxes (federal, state, local), which can significantly impact your take-home pay.

FAQs of Student Aircraft Builders

1. How much does a Student Aircraft Builders employee make?

Student Aircraft Builders pays its employees an average of $90,491 per year. The average salary at Student Aircraft Builders range from $79,668 to $102,234 per year. It's important to remember that these are overall averages, actual salaries vary significantly based on specific job titles, years of experience, skills, and location.

2. Which similar company tend to pay more or less than Student Aircraft Builders?

The salary at Student Aircraft Builders is lesser than the similar company. The average annual salary at Student Aircraft Builders is $90,491, or an hourly wage of $44, in comparison to LF Driscoll Co which pays $102,885 per year or $49 per hour.

3. Do employees with advanced degrees (Master's, PhD) earn more at Student Aircraft Builders?

In many roles at Student Aircraft Builders, particularly those requiring specialized knowledge or research capabilities (e.g., certain engineering, scientific, or financial roles), an advanced degree like a Master's or PhD can lead to a higher starting salary and faster career progression, thus higher earnings. However, for some roles, direct experience and skills might be valued as much or more than an advanced degree. The impact varies by field and specific job requirements.

4. How does the cost of living near Champaign affect the perceived value of a Student Aircraft Builders salary?

Champaign's Cost of Living Index is approximately 89.8 (10.2% less expensive than US average; 4.3% less than IL average). This significantly impacts the purchasing power of a salary from Student Aircraft Builders based there. Our "Cost of Living Insights for Champaign" module details this impact, helping you assess the 'real feel' value of your compensation.

5. What kind of benefits does Student Aircraft Builders typically offer employees?

Student Aircraft Builders generally offers a range of employee benefits designed to support their workforce's health, financial well-being, and work-life balance. Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision), a 401(k) retirement savings plan (often with a company match), paid time off (PTO), and potentially disability and life insurance are included. For a more detailed list of benefits, please see our "Employee Benefits at Student Aircraft Builders" section on this page.