Aircraft Captain Salary in the United States

How much does an Aircraft Captain make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aircraft Captain in the United States is $142,866 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $69.

However, an Aircraft Captain's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $169,295
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $127,822 to $156,700
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $114,125
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View as table View as graph 25% $127,822 10% $114,125 90% $169,295 75% $156,700 $142,866 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Aircraft Captain Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $156,700 $13,058 $3,013 $75
Average $142,866 $11,906 $2,747 $69
25th Percentile $127,822 $10,652 $2,458 $61
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Key Factors That Influence Aircraft Captain Salaries

An Aircraft Captain'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 Aircraft Captain Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Aircraft Captain'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): $117,718
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $143,911
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $166,435
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $198,800
  • Expert (over 8 years): $172,747
Levels Salary
Pilot I Level Aircraft Captain$117,718
Aircraft ... Level Aircraft Captain$143,911
Pilot III... Level Aircraft Captain$166,435
Pilot IV Level Aircraft Captain$198,800
Chief Pil... Level Aircraft Captain$172,747
$117,718 0 yr
$143,911 < 2 yrs
$166,435 2-4 yrs
$198,800 5-8 yrs
$172,747 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Aircraft Captains

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: $180,197
  • San Francisco: $178,425
  • Oakland: $174,468

What Skills Can Increase an Aircraft Captain's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 1.7% 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.
  • Safety Management (Mentioned in 1.14% Job Postings): Applying safety principles, framework, processes, and measures to prevent accidents, injuries, and other adverse consequences.
  • Counterintelligence (Mentioned in 0.57% Job Postings): Counterintelligence is an activity aimed at protecting an agency's intelligence program from an opposition's intelligence service.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 1.7%
Safety Management 1.14%
Counterintelligence 0.57%
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 an Aircraft Captain's salary.
  • Communicates Effectively: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Scheduling: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 3%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Communicates Effectively
$154,295
8%
Scheduling
$154,295
8%
Leadership
$147,152
3%
Aviation
$145,723
2%
Planning
$145,723
2%
Security Clearance
$144,295
1%
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How Education impacts an Aircraft Captain's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Aircraft Captains enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Aircraft Captain with a No Diploma is between $147,882 and $159,968).

Aircraft Captain Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Aircraft Captain
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 22.5%
High School 22.5%
Associates 10.0%
Bachelors 67.5%
Masters 10.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Aircraft Captain Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Aircraft Captain'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 Aircraft Captain

Salaries for an Aircraft Captain can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $102,723 in 2023 to around $94,607 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Aircraft Captain salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Aircraft Captain Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$102,723
2024
$97,684
2025
$94,607
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $102,723
2024 $97,684
2025 $94,607
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Aircraft Captain

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Aircraft Captain

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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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