How Much Does an Aircraft First Officer Make in the United States ? (2026 Salary Guide)

Aircraft First Officer Salary in the United States

As of January 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Aircraft First Officer in the US is $153,674, equivalent to $74 per hour, $2,955 weekly, or $12,806 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Aircraft First Officer in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Aircraft First Officer in the US vary widely, spanning from $125,053 to $183,873. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($138,693) and 75th percentile ($169,481), while top earners (90th percentile) make $183,873 per year. This $30,788 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Customer Service or Safety Management, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Aircraft First Officer often earn 10.7% above national averages due to demand from Fortune 40 companies and industry startups. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

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Aircraft First Officer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Aircraft First Officer Salary $125,053 US January 01, 2026
25th Percentile Aircraft First Officer Salary $138,693 US January 01, 2026
50th Percentile Aircraft First Officer Salary $153,674 US January 01, 2026
75th Percentile Aircraft First Officer Salary $169,481 US January 01, 2026
90th Percentile Aircraft First Officer Salary $183,873 US January 01, 2026
25% $138,693 10% $125,053 90% $183,873 75% $169,481 $153,674 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is an Aircraft First Officer ?

In commercial aviation, the first officer (FO) is the second pilot (also referred to as the co-pilot) of an aircraft. The first officer is second-in-command of the aircraft to the captain, who is the legal commander. In the event of incapacitation of the captain, the first officer will assume command of the aircraft. Control of the aircraft is normally shared equally between the first officer and the captain, with one pilot normally designated the "pilot flying" (PF) and the other the "pilot not flying" (PNF), or "pilot monitoring" (PM), for each flight. Even when the first officer is the fl...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/18/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    Pilot I

    2 - 4 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. This Job:

    Aircraft First Officer

    4 - 7 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  3. Up a level:

    Pilot III

    7 + years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

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Understand the total compensation opportunity for an Aircraft First Officer, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
138693
169481
153674

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
166493
233311
194715
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Aircraft First Officer in the United States. The base salary for Aircraft First Officer ranges from $138,693 to $169,481 with the average base salary of $153,674. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $166,493 to $233,311 with the average total cash compensation of $194,715.

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138693
169481

 

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Learn more about: Compensation Packages, Employee Flight Risk, Gender Pay Gap, Job Openings for This Role