Fixed Wing Pilot Salary in the United States

How much does a Fixed Wing Pilot make in the United States?

As of June 01, 2026, the average salary for a Fixed Wing Pilot in the United States is $163,693 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $79.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $184,857
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $142,044 to $174,771
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $122,334
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View as table View as graph 25% $142,044 10% $122,334 90% $184,857 75% $174,771 $163,693 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Fixed Wing Pilot Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $174,771 $14,564 $3,361 $84
Average $163,693 $13,641 $3,148 $79
25th Percentile $142,044 $11,837 $2,732 $68
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Focus Staff - ROCK HILL, SC

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Focus Staff - RAPID CITY, SD

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Key Factors That Influence Fixed Wing Pilot Salaries

A Fixed Wing 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 Fixed Wing Pilot Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Fixed Wing 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $116,846
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $142,840
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $165,196
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $197,300
  • Expert (over 8 years): $171,467
Levels Salary
Pilot I Level Fixed Wing Pilot$116,846
Pilot II Level Fixed Wing Pilot$142,840
Fixed Win... Level Fixed Wing Pilot$165,196
Pilot IV Level Fixed Wing Pilot$197,300
Chief Pil... Level Fixed Wing Pilot$171,467
$116,846 0 yr
$142,840 < 2 yrs
$165,196 2-4 yrs
$197,300 5-8 yrs
$171,467 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Fixed Wing Pilots

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: $206,466
  • San Francisco: $204,205
  • Oakland: $199,902

What Skills Can Increase a Fixed Wing Pilot's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 50% 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.
  • Aviation (Mentioned in 50% Job Postings): Aviation is the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. Aircraft includes fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air craft such as hot air balloons and airships.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 50%
Aviation 50%
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 Fixed Wing Pilot's salary.
  • Aviation: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Aviation
$176,788
8%
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How Education impacts a Fixed Wing Pilot's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Fixed Wing Pilots 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 a Fixed Wing Pilot with a No Diploma is between $153,894 and $166,474).

Fixed Wing Pilot Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Fixed Wing Pilot
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 15.7%
High School 15.7%
Associates 9.8%
Bachelors 60.8%
Masters 11.8%
Doctorate 2.0%
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Fixed Wing Pilot Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Fixed Wing 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 June 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Fixed Wing Pilot

Salaries for a Fixed Wing Pilot can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $123,685 in 2023 to around $115,987 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Fixed Wing Pilot salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Fixed Wing Pilot Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$123,685
2024
$119,726
2025
$115,987
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $123,685
2024 $119,726
2025 $115,987
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Fixed Wing Pilot

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Fixed Wing Pilot

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

Find Your Next Fixed Wing Pilot Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Fixed Wing Pilot job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

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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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