As of March 01, 2026, the average salary for a Test Pilot Manager in the United States is $193,965 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $93.
However, a Test Pilot Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI-Powered Talent
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.
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:
| Job Role | Years of Experience | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Test Pilot | 4-7 years | $128,877 |
| Senior Test Pilot | 7+ years | $150,093 |
| Lead Test Pilot | 7-10 years | $169,724 |
| Test Pilot Manager | 10+ years | $193,965 |
| Test Pilot Senior Manager | 10+ years | $219,119 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Test Pilot Managers. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
Demanded Skills for the Role:
| Skills | Demand Percentage |
|---|---|
| Analysis | 5.42% |
| UAT | 3.05% |
| SQL | 1.69% |
| Skill | Salary | Salary % Increase |
|---|---|---|
|
Test Strategy
|
$236,637 |
22%
|
|
People Management
|
$236,637 |
22%
|
|
Initiative
|
$232,758 |
20%
|
|
Test Execution
|
$226,939 |
17%
|
|
Scheduling
|
$224,999 |
16%
|
|
Test Planning
|
$219,180 |
13%
|
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
| 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% |
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 March 01, 2026For a Test Pilot Manager, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Test Pilot Senior Manager role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $219,119 - a projected growth of 13% over your current level.
If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.
Compensation PlanningHere are companies hiring for Test Pilot Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Test Pilot Manager job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
A Test Pilot Manager'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 Test Pilot Manager earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Test Pilot Manager is $244,648.
The highest pay for Test Pilot Manager is $215,589.
The lowest pay for Test Pilot Manager is $167,503.
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.
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.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
