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Fighter Pilot Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Fighter Pilot in the United States is $144,462 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $69.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $173,079
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $130,671 to $159,441
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $118,115
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Fighter Pilot Salaries

A Fighter 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 Fighter Pilot Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Fighter 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): $117,276
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $143,361
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $165,797
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $197,989
  • Expert (over 8 years): $172,097
Levels Salary
Pilot I Level Fighter Pilot$117,276
Fighter P... Level Fighter Pilot$143,361
Pilot III... Level Fighter Pilot$165,797
Pilot IV Level Fighter Pilot$197,989
Chief Pil... Level Fighter Pilot$172,097
View as Graph

How Do Fighter 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 Fighter Pilots. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $159,948.
  • California: $159,342.
  • Massachusetts: $157,218.

Top Paying Cities for Fighter 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: $182,210
  • San Francisco: $180,215
  • Oakland: $176,417

What Skills Can Increase a Fighter Pilot'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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 1.7%
Safety Management 1.14%
Counterintelligence 0.57%
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 Fighter Pilot'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 $156,019
8%
Scheduling $156,019
8%
Leadership $148,796
3%
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Fighter Pilot Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Fighter Pilot roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 18% above the average. In contrast, Fighter Pilot positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Fighter Pilot as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Fighter Pilot

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$170,465$82.018%
Energy & Utilities$166,131$80.015%
Software & Networking$164,687$79.014%
Aerospace & Defense$161,797$78.012%
Internet$158,908$76.010%

How Education impacts a Fighter Pilot's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Fighter 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 Fighter Pilot with a No Diploma is between $147,882 and $159,968).

Fighter Pilot Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Fighter Pilot
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%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Fighter 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
$130,671
Average $144,462/year
$159,441
$10,889
Average $12,039/month
$13,287
$2,513
Average $2,778/week
$3,066
$63
Average $69/hour
$77
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $159,441 $13,287 $3,066 $77
Average $144,462 $12,039 $2,778 $69
25th Percentile $130,671 $10,889 $2,513 $63

Most common benefits for Fighter Pilot

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

Common company salaries for Fighter Pilot

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

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FAQ about Fighter Pilot

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

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Fighter Pilot roles, with salaries approximately 18% 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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