What are the main factors that influence a Pilot III's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Pilot 's salary?

A Pilot 's salary grows with experience: a Pilot I (2-4 years)earns $116,542, a Pilot II (4-7 years)earns $142,463, a Pilot III (7+ years)earns $164,759, a Pilot IV (7-10 years)earns $196,749, a Chief Pilot I (10+ years)earns $171,020,

What are the highest paying states for a Pilot III?

Pilot III salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Pilot III roles are District of Columbia $182,421, California $181,729, Massachusetts $179,307. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Pilot roles make?

Salaries for Pilot level roles vary by specialization: Pilot in Commend: $196,800; Pilot IV: $196,749; Charter Pilot: $192,315; Airline Pilot: $171,101; Cargo Pilot: $143,353.

How do different companies affect a Pilot III's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Pilot III roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Pilot III Salary in the United States

How much does a Pilot III make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Pilot III in the United States is $164,759 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $79.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $185,848
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $144,691 to $175,798
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $126,420

10% $126,420

50% (Median) $164,759

90% $185,848

Pilot III Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$175,798	$14,650	$3,381	$85
Average	$164,759	$13,730	$3,168	$79
25th Percentile	$144,691	$12,058	$2,783	$70

Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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Key Factors That Influence Pilot III Salaries

A Pilot III'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Pilot III Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Pilot III'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:

Pilot I (2-4 years): $116,542
Pilot II (4-7 years): $142,463
Pilot III (7+ years): $164,759
Pilot IV (7-10 years): $196,749
Chief Pilot I (10+ years): $171,020

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Pilot I	2-4 years	$116,542
Pilot II	4-7 years	$142,463
Pilot III	7+ years	$164,759
Pilot IV	7-10 years	$196,749
Chief Pilot I	10+ years	$171,020

View as Graph

How Do Pilot III Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Pilot IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $182,421.
California: $181,729.
Massachusetts: $179,307.

District of Columbia $182,421 California $181,729 Massachusetts $179,307 Washington $178,648 New Jersey $178,582 Alaska $178,352 Connecticut $176,078 New York $175,155

Hawaii $172,206 Rhode Island $170,822 Maryland $169,883 Minnesota $168,598 Colorado $168,104 Illinois $167,939 Oregon $167,313 Delaware $166,851

New Hampshire $166,561 Virginia $165,912 Pennsylvania $164,018 Nevada $163,062 North Dakota $162,749 Michigan $162,255 Wisconsin $162,073 Vermont $161,711

Texas $160,706 Maine $160,640 Arizona $160,541 Ohio $160,426 Georgia $158,910 Indiana $158,152 Wyoming $158,004 Utah $157,773

Iowa $157,674 Kansas $156,884 Louisiana $156,653 North Carolina $156,570 Missouri $156,538 Florida $155,895 Montana $155,549 Nebraska $155,219

Kentucky $155,038 South Carolina $154,379 Tennessee $153,967 Idaho $153,803 New Mexico $152,600 Oklahoma $152,336 Alabama $151,364 South Dakota $149,733

Arkansas $148,843 West Virginia $148,365 Mississippi $146,932

Top Paying Cities for Pilot IIIs

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: $207,811
San Francisco: $205,535
Oakland: $201,204

San Jose, CA $207,811

San Francisco, CA $205,535

Oakland, CA $201,204

New York, NY $189,702

Paramus, NJ $187,395

Queens Village, NY $187,387

Passaic, NJ $187,230

Bergenfield, NJ $187,216

Stamford, CT $186,853

Huntington, NY $186,786

Newark, NJ $185,568

Bridgeport, CT $185,220

Vallejo, CA $184,893

New Brunswick, NJ $184,827

Petaluma, CA $184,728

Middlesex, NJ $184,415

Somerset, NJ $184,299

Santa Cruz, CA $184,085

Boston, MA $183,080

Monterey, CA $182,502

Seattle, WA $182,125

Santa Rosa, CA $182,092

Los Angeles, CA $182,042

Juneau, AK $181,614

Washington, DC $181,433

Orange, CA $180,846

Santa Ana, CA $180,411

Long Beach, CA $180,246

Anaheim, CA $180,213

Anchorage, AK $180,131

Santa Maria, CA $179,637

Everett, WA $179,604

Danbury, CT $179,024

Bremerton, WA $178,796

Tacoma, WA $178,203

New Suffolk, NY $178,200

Sacramento, CA $178,154

Santa Barbara, CA $177,973

Trenton, NJ $177,791

San Diego, CA $177,791

Brockton, MA $177,610

Fairbanks, AK $177,207

Lompoc, CA $176,786

Lowell, MA $176,653

Ventura, CA $176,622

Nashua, NH $176,589

Stockton, CA $176,572

Modesto, CA $175,369

Poughkeepsie, NY $175,007

Olympia, WA $174,694

Kennewick, WA $174,694

New Haven, CT $174,628

Lawrence, MA $174,035

Hartford, CT $173,870

Riverside, CA $173,837

New Bedford, MA $173,672

Richland, WA $173,672

Bakersfield, CA $173,442

San Bernardino, CA $173,376

New Britain, CT $173,359

Atlantic City, NJ $173,359

New London, CT $173,294

Norwich, CT $173,244

Portsmouth, NH $173,211

Boulder, CO $172,862

Portland, OR $172,634

Worcester, MA $172,618

Minneapolis, MN $172,107

Philadelphia, PA $171,877

Honolulu, HI $171,333

Saint Paul, MN $171,254

Vineland, NJ $171,218

Providence, RI $170,740

Chicago, IL $170,262

Bellingham, WA $170,064

Springfield, MA $169,932

Baltimore, MD $169,883

Chico, CA $169,471

Pittsfield, MA $169,026

Manchester, NH $168,713

Spokane, WA $167,988

Denver, CO $167,972

Albany, NY $167,197

Troy, NY $167,132

Nassau, NY $166,955

Schenectady, NY $166,786

Wilmington, DE $166,654

Burlington, VT $166,423

Salem, OR $166,357

Portland, ME $165,846

Yakima, WA $165,682

Rochester, MN $165,171

Reno, NV $165,089

Fresno, CA $165,089

Milwaukee, WI $164,940

Detroit, MI $164,775

Ann Arbor, MI $164,747

Allentown, PA $164,726

Colorado Springs, CO $164,446

Syracuse, NY $164,364

Carson City, NV $164,364

Houston, TX $164,133

Eugene, OR $164,051

Gary, IN $163,853

Springfield, OR $163,721

Bismarck, ND $163,688

Galveston, TX $163,573

Medford, OR $163,326

Fort Collins, CO $163,260

Concord, NH $163,177

Austin, TX $163,128

Mesa, AZ $162,782

Reading, PA $162,765

Phoenix, AZ $162,749

Dallas, TX $162,700

Saint Cloud, MN $162,541

Madison, WI $162,321

Utica, NY $161,876

Rochester, NY $161,612

Des Moines, IA $161,596

Raleigh, NC $161,579

Atlanta, GA $161,332

Battle Creek, MI $161,283

Salt Lake City, UT $161,233

Lancaster, PA $160,986

Harrisburg, PA $160,755

Kansas City, MO $160,591

Champaign, IL $160,558

Kansas City, KS $160,558

Fort Worth, TX $160,541

Columbus, OH $160,513

Boca Raton, FL $160,475

Pittsburgh, PA $160,409

Richmond, VA $160,343

Indianapolis, IN $160,311

Cleveland, OH $160,294

Las Vegas, NV $160,096

Cincinnati, OH $160,096

Petersburg, VA $159,849

Huntsville, AL $159,602

Lansing, MI $159,492

Lebanon, PA $159,470

Pueblo, CO $159,454

Appleton, WI $159,404

Buffalo, NY $159,338

Dayton, OH $159,289

Racine, WI $159,256

Charlotte, NC $159,240

Saint Louis, MO $159,190

York, PA $159,091

Elkhart, IN $159,091

Gastonia, NC $159,060

Billings, MT $159,020

Beaumont, TX $158,976

Lorain, OH $158,943

Benton Harbor, MI $158,910

Toledo, OH $158,877

Binghamton, NY $158,795

Rock Hill, SC $158,778

Rockford, IL $158,696

Springfield, IL $158,630

Elyria, OH $158,613

Fargo, ND $158,613

Flagstaff, AZ $158,498

Fort Lauderdale, FL $158,399

Duluth, MN $158,300

Miami, FL $158,300

Cheyenne, WY $158,185

Grand Forks, ND $158,185

Bangor, ME $157,823

Cedar Rapids, IA $157,641

Durham, NC $157,572

Louisville, KY $157,559

Grand Rapids, MI $157,526

Hialeah, FL $157,510

Casper, WY $157,279

Scranton, PA $157,081

New Orleans, LA $157,032

Virginia Beach, VA $157,015

Akron, OH $156,933

Peoria, IL $156,719

Sarasota, FL $156,686

Nashville, TN $156,570

Omaha, NE $156,570

Green Bay, WI $156,570

Baton Rouge, LA $156,488

Charleston, SC $156,455

Jamestown, NY $156,373

Davenport, IA $156,373

Tucson, AZ $156,290

Saint Petersburg, FL $156,192

Tampa, FL $156,159

Evansville, IN $156,060

Port Arthur, TX $156,060

Bradenton, FL $155,994

Santa Fe, NM $155,697

Orlando, FL $155,401

Clearwater, FL $155,351

Canton, OH $155,005

La Crosse, WI $155,005

Albuquerque, NM $154,906

Newport News, VA $154,890

High Point, NC $154,841

Ogden, UT $154,775

Corpus Christi, TX $154,643

Norfolk, VA $154,544

Laramie, WY $154,544

Rock Island, IL $154,445

Saginaw, MI $154,412

Jacksonville, FL $154,396

Salisbury, NC $154,363

Boise, ID $154,330

Moline, IL $154,247

Fort Myers, FL $154,198

Memphis, TN $154,165

Tulsa, OK $154,083

Waterloo, IA $153,984

Spartanburg, SC $153,819

Lincoln, NE $153,737

Fort Wayne, IN $153,704

Provo, UT $153,687

Cedar Falls, IA $153,489

San Antonio, TX $153,424

Greensboro, NC $153,358

South Bend, IN $153,341

Savannah, GA $153,160

Muskegon, MI $153,094

Birmingham, AL $153,078

Winston Salem, NC $152,997

Lake Charles, LA $152,600

Anderson, IN $152,567

Lexington, KY $152,517

Augusta, GA $152,468

Greenville, SC $152,468

Lima, OH $152,336

Wichita, KS $152,320

Tuscaloosa, AL $152,320

Columbia, SC $152,171

Springfield, OH $152,138

Asheville, NC $151,875

Bloomington, IN $151,760

Knoxville, TN $151,166

Shreveport, LA $151,150

Wilmington, NC $150,936

Roanoke, VA $150,936

Topeka, KS $150,639

Frankfort, KY $150,621

Oklahoma City, OK $150,507

Chillicothe, OH $150,441

Longview, TX $150,425

Melbourne, FL $150,408

Sioux Falls, SD $150,145

Mobile, AL $150,128

Terre Haute, IN $150,062

Altoona, PA $149,964

Amarillo, TX $149,848

Killeen, TX $149,799

Fayetteville, AR $149,667

Chattanooga, TN $149,618

Sioux City, IA $149,469

Idaho Falls, ID $149,436

Lynchburg, VA $149,305

Gainesville, FL $149,090

Portsmouth, OH $149,008

Little Rock, AR $148,975

Lafayette, LA $148,909

Youngstown, OH $148,909

Daytona Beach, FL $148,810

Clarksville, TN $148,794

Pensacola, FL $148,777

Temple, TX $148,766

Hopkinsville, KY $148,283

Erie, PA $148,250

Florence, SC $148,184

Charleston, WV $147,921

Great Falls, MT $147,838

Macon, GA $147,608

Tallahassee, FL $147,591

Fayetteville, NC $147,558

Waco, TX $147,525

Helena, MT $147,410

Pine Bluff, AR $147,347

Vincennes, IN $147,146

Lubbock, TX $147,080

Alamogordo, NM $146,982

Twin Falls, ID $146,833

Rapid City, SD $146,784

Jackson, MS $146,487

Huntington, WV $146,476

Greenville, MS $146,471

Parkersburg, WV $146,303

Montgomery, AL $146,273

Wichita Falls, TX $146,108

Springfield, MO $146,108

Biloxi, MS $146,026

Monroe, LA $145,861

Johnstown, PA $145,746

Sumter, SC $145,680

Columbus, GA $145,663

Pascagoula, MS $145,350

Abilene, TX $145,350

Kingsport, TN $144,922

Albany, GA $144,922

Gulfport, MS $144,873

Alexandria, LA $144,329

Fort Smith, AR $143,917

El Paso, TX $143,472

Las Cruces, NM $142,731

Harlingen, TX $142,312

Pocatello, ID $142,286

Florence, AL $142,072

Brownsville, TX $142,039

Mcallen, TX $141,693

Dothan, AL $141,462

Columbus, MS $140,483

Altus, OK $139,716

Lawton, OK $139,403

Pierre, SD $138,809

What Skills Can Increase a Pilot III's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Customer Service (Mentioned in 50% 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.
Aviation (Mentioned in 50% Job Postings): Aviation is the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. Aircraft includes fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air craft such as hot air balloons and airships.

Skills	Demand Percentage
Customer Service	50%
Aviation	50%

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 a Pilot III's salary.

Aviation: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Aviation	$177,940	8%

Get Latest Data

Pilot III Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Pilot III salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $184,125. While startup companies pay approximate $155,751.

Pilot III Salary by Company Size

Company Size	Employees	Average Salary
Startup	1~50	$155,751
Growth Stage	51~500	$164,722
Established	501~5000	$177,796
Enterprise	5000+	$184,125

Pilot III Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Pilot III roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Pilot positions in Insurance or Internet typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Pilot III as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Pilot III

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Aerospace & Defense	$214,187	$103.0	30%
Biotechnology	$205,949	$99.0	25%
Business Services	$197,711	$95.0	20%
Chemicals	$189,473	$91.0	15%
Construction	$181,235	$87.0	10%

How Education impacts a Pilot III's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Pilot III enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Pilot III with a Bachelor's Degree is between $158,410 and $172,352.

Pilot III Salaries by Degree Level

$176,100
$172,900
$169,700
$166,600
$163,400
$160,300
$157,100
$153,900

Typical Education for Pilot III
Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	15.7%
High School	15.7%
Associates	9.8%
Bachelors	60.8%
Masters	11.8%
Doctorate	2.0%

View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Pilot III'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.

$144,691

Average $164,759/year

$175,798

$12,058

Average $13,730/month

$14,650

$2,783

Average $3,168/week

$3,381

$70

Average $79/hour

$85

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$175,798	$14,650	$3,381	$85
Average	$164,759	$13,730	$3,168	$79
25th Percentile	$144,691	$12,058	$2,783	$70

Pilot III Salary Growth & Career Path

Pilot III

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Pilot III, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Pilot III Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role	Estimate Salary	Projected Raise
Chief Helicopter Pilot	$165,953	1%
Pilot IV	$196,749	19%

Salary Trends for Pilot III

Salaries for a Pilot III can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $123,290 in 2023 to around $115,617 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Pilot III salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Pilot III Over Time

$???
$123,290
$119,344
$115,617
$???
$???

2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$123,290
2024	$119,344
2025	$115,617
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Pilot III

Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Pilot III

Here are companies hiring for Pilot III and their salaries, click below for more details.

C $128,509/per year

C R Bard Inc Biotechnology the United States

H $124,697/per year

Henry Schein Canada Biotechnology the United States

N $123,899/per year

Nordex Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $120,416/per year

Nipro Corp Biotechnology the United States

E $115,870/per year

Enovis Biotechnology the United States

A $114,553/per year

Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy Biotechnology the United States

M $112,110/per year

MiniMed Inc Biotechnology the United States

L $111,500/per year

Labcorp Drug Development Biotechnology the United States

L $110,229/per year

Life Technologies Corp Biotechnology the United States

Z $106,224/per year

Zimmer Biomet Biotechnology the United States

P $103,077/per year

Promontory Therapeutics Biotechnology the United States

S $102,181/per year

Steris PLC Biotechnology the United States

G $97,274/per year

Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd Biotechnology the United States

E $94,764/per year

Endeavor BioMedicines Biotechnology the United States

R $94,402/per year

Replay Holdings LLC Biotechnology the United States

P $94,235/per year

Pleno Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $93,666/per year

Simulaids Inc Biotechnology the United States

N $88,880/per year

NOIRLab/CAS Biotechnology the United States

O $86,468/per year

Onward Technology Biotechnology the United States

L $84,895/per year

LED Medical Diagnostics Inc Biotechnology the United States

E $84,682/per year

Eyeco Ltd Biotechnology the United States

P $84,523/per year

Paerosol Biotechnology the United States

I $83,525/per year

IONIQ Sciences Inc Biotechnology the United States

S $82,815/per year

Stateside PPE Biotechnology the United States

D $82,041/per year

Digi Bio Biotechnology the United States

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FAQ about Pilot III

1. Where can a Pilot III earn the most?

A Pilot III's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Pilot III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Pilot III is $207,811.

2. What is the highest pay for Pilot III?

The highest pay for Pilot III is $185,848.

3. What is the lowest pay for Pilot III?

The lowest pay for Pilot III is $126,420.

4. What are the responsibilities of Pilot III?

Pilots aircraft following standard operating procedures to ensure that flights operate according to all regulations, safety, and company policies. Follows required procedures to perform pre-flight checks and inspections. Determines flight routes, speed, take-off, and landing times that will fulfill scheduling requirements. Completes required documentation and performs post-flight procedures as required. May require a bachelor's degree. Requires Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate. Requires FAA Commercial Pilot's License. Typically reports to chief pilot. Work is highly independent. May assume a team lead role for the work group. A specialist on complex technical and business matters. Typically requires 7+ years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Pilot III?

The Aerospace & Defense industry offers the highest average compensation for Pilot III roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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