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Test Pilot Salary in Loco Hills, NM

How much does a Test Pilot make in Loco Hills, NM?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Test Pilot in Loco Hills, NM is $116,278 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $56.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $136,953
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $106,062 to $127,100
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $96,760
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, skills 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): $116,278
  • Senior Test Pilot (7+ years): $135,413
  • Lead Test Pilot (7-10 years): $153,072
  • Test Pilot Manager (10+ years): $175,041
  • Test Pilot Senior Manager (10+ years): $197,769
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Test Pilot4-7 years$116,278
Senior Test Pilot7+ years$135,413
Lead Test Pilot7-10 years$153,072
Test Pilot Manager10+ years$175,041
Test Pilot Senior Manager10+ years$197,769
View as Graph

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 $146,511
26%
Computer Vision $143,023
23%
Test Engineering $133,720
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 $130,556. While startup companies pay approximate $110,475.

Test Pilot Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $110,475
Growth Stage 51~500 $116,809
Established 501~5000 $126,085
Enterprise 5000+ $130,556

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%

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
$106,062
Average $116,278/year
$127,100
$8,838
Average $9,690/month
$10,592
$2,040
Average $2,236/week
$2,444
$51
Average $56/hour
$61
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $127,100 $10,592 $2,444 $61
Average $116,278 $9,690 $2,236 $56
25th Percentile $106,062 $8,838 $2,040 $51

Test Pilot Salary Growth & Career Path

Test Pilot

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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 $135,413 - a projected growth of 16% 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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