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Airline Pilot Salary in Ottawa, IL

How much does an Airline Pilot make in Ottawa, IL?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Airline Pilot in Ottawa, IL is $161,701 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $78.

However, an Airline Pilot's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $196,280
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $148,001 to $179,801
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $135,528
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Airline Pilot Salaries

An Airline Pilot's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Airline Pilot Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Airline Pilot's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • First Officer (4-7 years): $134,623
  • Captain (7+ years): $155,692
  • Pilot in Commend (7-10 years): $185,922
  • Airline Pilot (10+ years): $161,609
  • Chief Pilot Air Fleet Manager (10+ years): $215,015
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
First Officer4-7 years$134,623
Captain7+ years$155,692
Pilot in Commend7-10 years$185,922
Airline Pilot10+ years$161,609
Chief Pilot Air Fleet Manager10+ years$215,015
View as Graph

Top Paying Cities for Airline Pilots

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $215,801
  • San Francisco: $213,401
  • Oakland: $208,901

What Skills Can Increase an Airline Pilot's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 22.91% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Avionics (Mentioned in 2.18% Job Postings): Avionics are the electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites, and spacecraft. Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems, and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to perform individual functions. These can be as simple as a searchlight for a police helicopter or as complicated as the tactical system for an airborne early warning platform. The term avionics is a portmanteau of the words aviation and electronics.
  • Regulatory Compliance (Mentioned in 1.29% Job Postings): Monitoring strict adherence of all organizational processes and procedures to applicable laws and regulations.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 22.91%
Avionics 2.18%
Regulatory Compliance 1.29%
See More Skills

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Airline Pilot's salary.

  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Patient Care: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Innovation $174,637
8%
Patient Care $174,637
8%
Regulatory Compliance $174,637
8%
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Airline Pilot Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Airline Pilot salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $180,708. While startup companies pay approximate $152,860.

Airline Pilot Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $152,860
Growth Stage 51~500 $161,665
Established 501~5000 $174,496
Enterprise 5000+ $180,708

Airline Pilot Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Airline Pilot roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 75% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Insurance sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Airline Pilot positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Airline Pilot as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Airline Pilot

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$226,381$109.040%
Insurance$218,296$105.035%
Software & Networking$210,211$101.030%
Internet$202,126$97.025%
Energy & Utilities$194,041$93.020%

Airline Pilot Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Airline Pilot's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$148,001
Average $161,701/year
$179,801
$12,333
Average $13,475/month
$14,983
$2,846
Average $3,110/week
$3,458
$71
Average $78/hour
$86
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $179,801 $14,983 $3,458 $86
Average $161,701 $13,475 $3,110 $78
25th Percentile $148,001 $12,333 $2,846 $71

Airline Pilot Salary Growth & Career Path

Airline Pilot

Next Role

For an Airline Pilot, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Chief Pilot Air Fleet Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $215,100 - a projected growth of 33% over your current level.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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