Pilot Salary Range

Amongst various airline jobs, the job of a pilot is one of the most challenging and popular jobs. Pilots are trained professionals who are provided with licenses to fly airplanes and helicopters, in order to transport goods, services and passengers from one place to the other. To become a pilot, one needs to get trained under a government registered pilot training institute, that imparts training for a substantial period of time and then gives a license that permits the individual to enter in the pilot profession. There are many types of pilots, besides the commonly known airplane pilots (that carry passengers) and helicopter pilots (that fly choppers owned by big business tycoons). Commercial, agriculture and military sectors also need pilots for the completion of various tasks.

Earning Potential of Pilots
The salary range is mostly decided by a bargaining agreement between the airline management authorities, government rules and regulations, and a committee on behalf of the pilots. Based on the negotiations between these three parties, a standard is set and according to some fixed rule, like the number of hours the pilot is flying and other parameters, the salary is fixed.

Helicopter Pilot
The salary of a helicopter pilot is usually between $70,000 to $105,000. On an average, the salary is near about $80,000.

Airline Pilot
Airline pilots transfer passengers from one place to the other. Many top brands in the US have been paying their airline pilots, salaries as low as $50,000 and as high as $160,000 annually, depending on the flying experience and technical expertise of the pilot.

Commercial Pilot
Commercial pilots transfer goods and other products of the companies to various destinations. Often, they are also required in transferring people from one place to another. The salary range of a commercial pilot is usually between $30,000 to $130,000 annually.

Agriculture Pilot
Agriculture pilots fly planes that are required to water and fertilize crops. An agricultural pilot usually earns $40,000 a year, besides $50 for every flying hour. As the agricultural pilots gain an experience of 3 to 4 years, they can earn $50,000 per year plus $75 - $100 per hour of flying. An agricultural pilot flies between 500 to 1000 hours a year.

Military Pilot
A military pilot is employed by the various defense departments of the US government (like the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, National Guard, Coast Guards and Reserves). The military pilots are trained to fly planes ranging from small turbo planes, helicopters, fighter jet planes, small executive jet planes and often large planes. The salary of a military pilot is usually between $21,000 to $99,000 annually.

Corporate Pilot
Almost half of the companies in the US have active flight departments. Corporate aviation accounts for nearly 75% of the airlines traveling and the corporate pilots are responsible for transporting business heads, executives and corporate bigwigs to various countries for meetings and business proposals. The salary of a corporate pilot depends on the complexity of the plane a pilot is flying. Complex planes, that require a lot of technical expertise, command higher salaries (an average of $100,000) and for flying simple planes, the starting salary is $60,000. Captains and first officers are the two types of pilots that are required in corporate flights. Every flight must be assisted by a first officer. The salary for corporate pilots promoted to captain ranks is between $41,000 (initially) to $130,000. The first officers with much lesser technical expertise can earn between $21,000 to $100,000.

The airline industry often goes through many ups and downs, however, the demand for professionals pilots is always high. According to the US government research, it is expected that nearly 14000 pilots will be required in the US by the end of year 2016. So, seeing the prospects of the aviation sector, it is a lucrative choice for students who aspire to become pilots. Enrolling in an accredited pilot training institute is the first step towards the realization of the dream to be a pilot. The salary varies every year with the economy fluctuating due to oil prices and other financial factors, however, these factors are secondary, as the whole world is affected by similar problems, so if you have the passion to fly, get started right away! All the best!