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Chief Pilot Salary in the United States

How much does a Chief Pilot make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Chief Pilot in the United States is $172,156 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $83.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $209,226
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $157,612 to $191,560
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $144,370
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Chief Pilot Salaries

A Chief 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 Chief Pilot Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Chief 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): $142,221
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $164,479
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $196,415
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $170,729
  • Expert (over 8 years): $227,149
Levels Salary
Pilot II Level Chief Pilot$142,221
Pilot III... Level Chief Pilot$164,479
Pilot IV Level Chief Pilot$196,415
Chief Pil... Level Chief Pilot$170,729
Chief Pil... Level Chief Pilot$227,149
View as Graph

How Do Chief Pilot 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 Chief Pilots. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $190,611.
  • California: $189,888.
  • Massachusetts: $187,357.

Top Paying Cities for Chief 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: $217,140
  • San Francisco: $214,763
  • Oakland: $210,237

What Skills Can Increase a Chief Pilot's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 22.91% 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.
  • Avionics (Mentioned in 2.18% Job Postings): Avionics are the electronic systems used on aircraft, artificial satellites, and spacecraft. Avionic systems include communications, navigation, the display and management of multiple systems, and the hundreds of systems that are fitted to aircraft to perform individual functions. These can be as simple as a searchlight for a police helicopter or as complicated as the tactical system for an airborne early warning platform. The term avionics is a portmanteau of the words aviation and electronics.
  • Regulatory Compliance (Mentioned in 1.29% Job Postings): Monitoring strict adherence of all organizational processes and procedures to applicable laws and regulations.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 22.91%
Avionics 2.18%
Regulatory Compliance 1.29%
See More Skills

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 Chief Pilot's salary.

  • Innovation: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Patient Care: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Innovation $185,928
8%
Patient Care $185,928
8%
Regulatory Compliance $185,928
8%
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Chief Pilot Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Chief Pilot roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 75% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Insurance sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Chief Pilot positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Chief Pilot as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Chief Pilot

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$241,018$116.040%
Insurance$232,411$112.035%
Software & Networking$223,803$108.030%
Internet$215,195$103.025%
Energy & Utilities$206,587$99.020%

How Education impacts a Chief Pilot's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Chief 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 Chief Pilot with a No Diploma is between $184,606 and $197,499).

Chief Pilot Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Chief Pilot
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 14.7%
Associates 10.3%
Bachelors 53.8%
Masters 19.0%
Doctorate 1.6%
View as Graph

Chief Pilot Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Chief 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 September 01, 2026
$157,612
Average $172,156/year
$191,560
$13,134
Average $14,346/month
$15,963
$3,031
Average $3,311/week
$3,684
$76
Average $83/hour
$92
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $191,560 $15,963 $3,684 $92
Average $172,156 $14,346 $3,311 $83
25th Percentile $157,612 $13,134 $3,031 $76

Most common benefits for Chief Pilot

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

Common company salaries for Chief Pilot

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

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FAQ about Chief Pilot

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Chief Pilot?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Chief Pilot 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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