Aviation Program Manager Salary in the United States

How much does an Aviation Program Manager make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for an Aviation Program Manager in the United States is $200,808 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $97.

However, an Aviation Program Manager's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $228,546
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $176,734 to $215,327
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $154,816
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View as table View as graph 25% $176,734 10% $154,816 90% $228,546 75% $215,327 $200,808 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Aviation Program Manager Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $215,327 $17,944 $4,141 $104
Average $200,808 $16,734 $3,862 $97
25th Percentile $176,734 $14,728 $3,399 $85
Check out Aviation Program Manager Job Openings in the United States
Program Manager

Vision to Learn - Columbus, OH

Program Manager

Forgent - Columbus, OH

Program Manager

Eliassen Group - Columbus, OH

Program Manager

Sigma Technologies (Ohio) - Columbus, OH

Search More Aviation Program Manager Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Aviation Program Manager Salaries

An Aviation Program Manager'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 Aviation Program Manager Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Aviation Program Manager'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): $162,190
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $131,647
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $167,732
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $199,740
  • Expert (over 8 years): $247,648
Levels Salary
Lead Flig... Level Aviation Program Manager$162,190
Flight Op... Level Aviation Program Manager$131,647
Flight Op... Level Aviation Program Manager$167,732
Aviation ... Level Aviation Program Manager$199,740
Flight Op... Level Aviation Program Manager$247,648
$162,190 0 yr
$131,647 < 2 yrs
$167,732 2-4 yrs
$199,740 5-8 yrs
$247,648 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Aviation Program Managers

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: $253,279
  • San Francisco: $250,506
  • Oakland: $245,227

What Skills Can Increase an Aviation Program Manager's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 8.33% 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.
  • Software Design (Mentioned in 1.67% Job Postings): Software design is the process by which an agent creates a specification of a software artifact, intended to accomplish goals, using a set of primitive components and subject to constraints. Software design may refer to either "all the activity involved in conceptualizing, framing, implementing, commissioning, and ultimately modifying complex systems" or "the activity following requirements specification and before programming, as ... [in] a stylized software engineering process." Software design usually involves problem solving and planning a software solution. This includes both a low-level component and algorithm design and a high-level, architecture design.
  • Continuous Improvement (Mentioned in 0.83% Job Postings): A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility. Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management). W. Edwards Deming, a pioneer of the field, saw it as part of the 'system' whereby feedback from the process and customer were evaluated against organisational goals. The fact that it can be called a management process does not mean that it needs to be executed by 'management'; but rather merely that it makes decisions about the implementation of the delivery process and the design of the delivery process itself.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 8.33%
Software Design 1.67%
Continuous Improvement 0.83%
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 Aviation Program Manager's salary.
  • Corporate Social Responsibility: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Long Term Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Marketing Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Corporate Social Responsibility
$249,002
24%
Long Term Planning
$240,970
20%
Marketing Planning
$224,905
12%
Team Management
$224,905
12%
Project Design
$220,889
10%
Catering
$216,873
8%
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Aviation Program Manager Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Aviation Program Manager 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 Healthcare and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Aviation Program Manager positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Financial Services typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Aviation Program Manager as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Aviation Program Manager

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$281,131$135.040%
Energy & Utilities$261,050$126.030%
Insurance$251,010$121.025%
Construction$240,970$116.020%
Telecom$240,970$116.020%

How Education impacts an Aviation Program Manager's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Aviation Program Managers 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 an Aviation Program Manager with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $188,420 and $207,090).

Aviation Program Manager Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Aviation Program Manager
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 14.4%
Associates 12.9%
Bachelors 46.2%
Masters 24.7%
Doctorate 1.3%
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Aviation Program Manager Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Aviation Program Manager'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

Salary Trends for Aviation Program Manager

Salaries for an Aviation Program Manager can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $143,133 in 2023 to around $137,255 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Aviation Program Manager salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Aviation Program Manager Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$143,133
2024
$140,532
2025
$137,255
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $143,133
2024 $140,532
2025 $137,255
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Aviation Program Manager

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Aviation Program Manager

Here are companies hiring for Aviation Program Manager and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Aviation Program Manager Job

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

United States
  • Columbus Partnership

    Columbus, OH

    Columbus Partnership | Columbus, OH

    About the Columbus Partnership. The Columbus Partnership is a nonprofit organization of CEOs from Columbus’ leading businesses and institutions. Through ou... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Integrated Services for Behavioral Health

    Columbus, OH

    Integrated Services for Behavioral Health | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. We are seeking an IHBT Program Manager. Southeastern, OH. Integrated Services for Behavioral Health (ISBH) is a community... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Total Aviation Staffing, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    Total Aviation Staffing, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. Total Aviation Staffing is hiring a. Program Manager – Helicopters. for our client, a leading aviation and aerospace serv... more

    5 Days Ago

  • ComResource

    Columbus, OH

    ComResource | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. Job Description. ComResource is looking for a Lead Technical Program Manager. Responsibilities. Establish project plans that set the goal ... more

    5 Days Ago

  • NetJets &amp; EJM

    Columbus, OH

    NetJets &amp; EJM | Columbus, OH

    Join the NetJets TeamNetJets, the global private aviation leader for more than 60 years, provides the pinnacle of private travel, defined by a signature co... more

    6 Days Ago

  • Turner Construction

    Columbus, OH

    Turner Construction | Columbus, OH

    Division:xPL Offsite SourcingProject Location(s):Monroe, LA 71201 USAMinimum Years Experience:Travel Involved:100%Job Type:Regular Job Classification:Exper... more

    6 Days Ago

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FAQ about Aviation Program Manager

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Aviation Program Manager?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Aviation Program Manager 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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