Flight Crew Employee Salary in the United States

How much does a Flight Crew Employee make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Flight Crew Employee in the United States is $80,550 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

However, a Flight Crew Employee's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $112,186
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $71,142 to $97,109
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,577

Key Factors That Influence Flight Crew Employee Salaries

A Flight Crew Employee'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 Flight Crew Employee Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Flight Crew Employee'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $79,332
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $102,149
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $116,656
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $164,157
  • Expert (over 8 years): $117,266
Levels Salary
Flight Cr... Level Flight Crew Employee$79,332
Flight Tr... Level Flight Crew Employee$102,149
Senior Fl... Level Flight Crew Employee$116,656
Lead Flig... Level Flight Crew Employee$164,157
Flight Op... Level Flight Crew Employee$117,266

How Do Flight Crew Employee 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 Flight Crew Employees. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $89,185.
  • California: $88,847.
  • Massachusetts: $87,662.

Top Paying Cities for Flight Crew Employees

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: $101,598
  • San Francisco: $100,485
  • Oakland: $98,368

What Skills Can Increase a Flight Crew Employee's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 25.55% 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.
  • Security Clearance (Mentioned in 1.94% Job Postings): A security clearance is a status granted to individuals allowing them access to classified information or to restricted areas, after completion of a thorough background check.
  • Accounting (Mentioned in 1.2% Job Postings): Creating financial statements and reports based on the summary of financial and business transactions.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 25.55%
Security Clearance 1.94%
Accounting 1.2%

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 Flight Crew Employee's salary.

  • Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Service Quality: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • ATS: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Dedication $92,632
15%
Service Quality $88,605
10%
ATS $87,799
9%

Flight Crew Employee Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Flight Crew Employee roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 80% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Flight Crew Employee positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Flight Crew Employee as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Flight Crew Employee

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$112,770$54.040%
Biotechnology$104,715$50.030%
Internet$104,715$50.030%

How Education impacts a Flight Crew Employee's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Flight Crew Employees enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate 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 Flight Crew Employee with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $80,199 and $86,896).

Flight Crew Employee Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Flight Crew Employee
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.7%
High School 32.1%
Associates 16.8%
Bachelors 42.9%
Masters 7.1%
Doctorate 0.4%

Flight Crew Employee Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Flight Crew Employee'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 September 01, 2026
$71,142
Average $80,550/year
$97,109
$5,929
Average $6,712/month
$8,092
$1,368
Average $1,549/week
$1,867
$34
Average $39/hour
$47
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $97,109 $8,092 $1,867 $47
Average $80,550 $6,712 $1,549 $39
25th Percentile $71,142 $5,929 $1,368 $34

Most common benefits for Flight Crew Employee

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

Common company salaries for Flight Crew Employee

Here are companies hiring for Flight Crew Employee and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Flight Crew Employee

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Flight Crew Employee?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Flight Crew Employee roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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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