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Hourly Wage for Test Pilot Manager Salary in the United States

What is the highest and lowest hourly pay for Test Pilot Manager?

As of April 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Test Pilot Manager in the United States is $93, which translates to an annual salary of about $193,989.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $104 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $87 to $99 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $80 per hour
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View as table View as graph 25% $87 10% $80 90% $104 75% $99 $93 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Test Pilot Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $205,146 $17,096 $3,945 $99
Average $193,989 $16,166 $3,731 $93
25th Percentile $180,041 $15,003 $3,462 $87
Check out Test Pilot Manager Job Openings in the United States
ACQUISITION TEST MANAGER

US Government Jobs - Dayton, OH

Flight Operations Manager

Vista America - Columbus, OH

Pilot

Superior Marine Inc. - South Point, OH

Pilot

Battelle - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Test Pilot Manager Salaries

A Test Pilot Manager'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 Test Pilot Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Test Pilot Manager'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:

  • Test Pilot (4-7 years): $128,888
  • Senior Test Pilot (7+ years): $150,105
  • Lead Test Pilot (7-10 years): $169,727
  • Test Pilot Manager (10+ years): $193,989
  • Test Pilot Senior Manager (10+ years): $219,150
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Test Pilot4-7 years$128,888
Senior Test Pilot7+ years$150,105
Lead Test Pilot7-10 years$169,727
Test Pilot Manager10+ years$193,989
Test Pilot Senior Manager10+ years$219,150
$128,888 Test Pilo...
$150,105 Senior Te...
$169,727 Lead Test...
$193,989 Test Pilo...
$219,150 Test Pilo...
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Test Pilot Managers

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: $244,678
  • San Francisco: $242,273
  • Oakland: $236,899

What Skills Can Increase a Test Pilot Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.42% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • UAT (Mentioned in 3.05% Job Postings): User acceptance testing also called application testing or end-user testing, is a phase of software development in which the software is tested in the real world by its intended audience.
  • SQL (Mentioned in 1.69% Job Postings): Structured Query Language) is a domain-specific language used in programming and designed for managing data held in a relational database management system (RDBMS), or for stream processing in a relational data stream management system (RDSMS).
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.42%
UAT 3.05%
SQL 1.69%
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 Test Pilot Manager's salary.
  • Test Strategy: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • People Management: Can increase your salary by up to 22%.
  • Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Test Strategy
$236,667
22%
People Management
$236,667
22%
Initiative
$232,787
20%
Test Execution
$226,967
17%
Scheduling
$225,027
16%
Test Planning
$219,208
13%
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How Education impacts a Test Pilot Manager's Salary?

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

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Test Pilot Manager with a Bachelor's Degree is between $210,402 and $231,127).

Test Pilot Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Test Pilot Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 7.7%
High School 7.7%
Associates 61.5%
Bachelors 30.8%
Masters 61.5%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Test Pilot Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Test Pilot Manager'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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Test Pilot Manager

Salaries for a Test Pilot Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $148,731 in 2023 to around $137,773 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Test Pilot Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Test Pilot Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$148,731
2024
$141,696
2025
$137,773
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $148,731
2024 $141,696
2025 $137,773
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Test Pilot Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Test Pilot Manager

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

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FAQ about Test Pilot Manager

1. What are the responsibilities of Test Pilot Manager?

Oversees and manages pilots who perform test flights to ensure that new or modified aircraft are functional and compliant with federal regulations and safety specifications. Implements standard policies and procedures to guide, train, and educate test pilots and audits processes to ensure compliance. Communicates with stakeholders to understand testing needs and designs testing protocols, maneuvers, and scenarios to evaluate designated features effectively. Evaluates findings from test flights and collaborates with engineers to implement design improvements or modifications. May coordinate flight demonstrations for officials or customers to exhibit performance and capabilities. Requires a high school diploma. Typically Requires FAA Commercial Pilot's License. Typically reports to a director. Manages subordinate staff in the day-to-day performance of their jobs. True first level manager. Ensures that project/department milestones/goals are met and adhering to approved budgets. Has full authority for personnel actions. Typically requires 5 years experience in the related area as an individual contributor. 1-3 years supervisory experience may be required. Extensive knowledge of the function and department processes.

2. What are the skills of Test Pilot Manager

Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.

1.)

Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.

2.)

UAT: User acceptance testing also called application testing or end-user testing, is a phase of software development in which the software is tested in the real world by its intended audience.

3.)

SQL: Structured Query Language) is a domain-specific language used in programming and designed for managing data held in a relational database management system (RDBMS), or for stream processing in a relational data stream management system (RDSMS).

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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