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Test Pilot Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Test Pilot in the United States is $128,939 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $62.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $151,864
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $117,610 to $140,939
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $107,296
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Test Pilot Salaries

A Test 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Test Pilot Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Test 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:

  • Test Pilot (4-7 years): $128,939
  • Senior Test Pilot (7+ years): $150,157
  • Lead Test Pilot (7-10 years): $169,739
  • Test Pilot Manager (10+ years): $194,100
  • Test Pilot Senior Manager (10+ years): $219,302
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Test Pilot4-7 years$128,939
Senior Test Pilot7+ years$150,157
Lead Test Pilot7-10 years$169,739
Test Pilot Manager10+ years$194,100
Test Pilot Senior Manager10+ years$219,302
View as Graph

How Do Test Pilots 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 Test Pilots. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $142,761.
  • California: $142,220.
  • Massachusetts: $140,324.

Top Paying Cities for Test Pilot

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: $162,631
  • San Francisco: $160,850
  • Oakland: $157,460

What Skills Can Increase a Test Pilot's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 7.69% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
  • Customer Training (Mentioned in 2.56% Job Postings): The process of educating your customers on how to successfully use your product or services in order to meet their goals.
  • Test Planning (Mentioned in 2.56% Job Postings): Test planning is an essential activity of testing, regardless of the project lifecycle approach.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 7.69%
Customer Training 2.56%
Test Planning 2.56%
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 Test Pilot's salary.

  • Field Testing: Can increase your salary by up to 26%.
  • Computer Vision: Can increase your salary by up to 23%.
  • Test Engineering: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Field Testing $162,463
26%
Computer Vision $158,595
23%
Test Engineering $148,280
15%
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Test Pilot Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Test Pilot salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $144,772. While startup companies pay approximate $122,503.

Test Pilot Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $122,503
Growth Stage 51~500 $129,527
Established 501~5000 $139,813
Enterprise 5000+ $144,772

Test Pilot Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Test Pilot 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 Software & Networking and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Test Pilot positions in Transportation or MFG Durable typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Test Pilot as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Test Pilot

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$167,621$81.030%
Aerospace & Defense$141,833$68.010%

How Education impacts an Test Pilot's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Test Pilot 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 Test Pilot with a Bachelor's Degree is between $140,831 and $150,056.

Test Pilot Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Test Pilot
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 18.2%
High School 18.2%
Associates 72.7%
Bachelors 9.1%
Masters 72.7%
Doctorate 0.0%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Test 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 August 01, 2026
$117,610
Average $128,939/year
$140,939
$9,801
Average $10,745/month
$11,745
$2,262
Average $2,480/week
$2,710
$57
Average $62/hour
$68
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $140,939 $11,745 $2,710 $68
Average $128,939 $10,745 $2,480 $62
25th Percentile $117,610 $9,801 $2,262 $57

Test Pilot Salary Growth & Career Path

Test Pilot

Next Role

Advancement

For a Test Pilot, the most direct path to higher earnings is advancing to the Senior Test Pilot role. This promotion typically comes with a significant pay increase, bringing the average annual salary to $150,157 - a projected growth of 16% over your current level.

Most common benefits for Test Pilot

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

Common company salaries for Test Pilot

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

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FAQ about Test Pilot

1. Where can a Test Pilot earn the most?

A Test Pilot'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 earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Test Pilot is $162,631.

2. What is the highest pay for Test Pilot?

The highest pay for Test Pilot is $151,864.

3. What is the lowest pay for Test Pilot?

The lowest pay for Test Pilot is $107,296.

4. What are the responsibilities of Test Pilot?

Pilots new or modified aircraft to test functionality and ensure compliance with federal regulations and product specifications. Follows all regulatory policies and procedures when conducting flight operations. Pilots aircraft and performs maneuvers in various conditions to test and validate functionality, capabilities, and safety of features. Collects and documents data utilizing specialized tools and professional observations. Prepares reports that summarize findings and recommendations. May pilot demonstrations for officials or customers to exhibit performance and capabilities. Requires a high school diploma. Requires FAA Commercial Pilot's License. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.

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

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Test Pilot 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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