Summary
- Private jet travel demand rose by 23% during pandemic, driving need for more private aviation pilots.
- Private jet pilots earn between $160K – $300K per year, with high variability based on experience.
- Private jet pilot salaries in the US average $131K, ranging from $49.5K to $201K yearly.
Private jet travel has significantly increased in recent years. In the United States alone, a more than 23% increase in private jet flights has been recorded since the pandemic started. Besides celebrities and business tycoons, more and more company executives and individuals fly private jets thanks to the ultimate flexibility and convenience.
The demand for private aviation pilots has subsequently increased in recent years. Trained and experienced pilots earn competitive salary packages when flying with private charter companies. This article examines how private jet pilot salaries compare to commercial and military aviation pilots. The information is primarily based on data from Ziprecruiter.com.
Commercial vs. Private
A pilot’s salary can vary greatly depending on experience, the aircraft type, and where they may be based. On average, a commercial pilot’s salary for a legacy airline can be between $150,000 and $250,000 annually. According to ATP Flight School, the average salary for a commercial pilot was around $217,000 in 2023, with the highest 10% of earners rising as high as $230,000.
What’s It Really Like Being A Private Jet Pilot?
Being a private jet pilot can be an exciting and rewarding job.
Commercial pilots have the benefits of healthcare and a retirement plan, and the longer you stay with growing seniority, the more fruitful it becomes. The flights are scheduled, and there is a routine. A pilot might earn between $50,000 and $130,000 working for a regional airline, whereas commercial pilots can top out their earnings at between $280,000 and $320,000. However, in the US, some very experienced pilots are earning up to $700,000 per year.
Becoming a commercial pilot, however, can be a slow, expensive, and rigorous endeavor. Airlines are extremely stringent on who they higher and many experiences, such as a college degree, may be non-negotiable. For example, an ex-Air Force cargo pilot may be unable to fly for a commercial airline due to a lack of a college degree but could be certified to fly as a private jet operator. These costs must be considered when evaluating long-term earnings potential in the field.
The world of private jets
The salary for private jet pilots is extremely variable but can be between $160,000 and $300,000 per year. The work is less than routine, and the schedule is often on a standby basis. It is a case of when the passenger wants to go, you go. Schedules are often hectic and always changing. If the aircraft is chartered, there will be a diverse mix of clientele.
Runway Incursions: Is Better Training Needed For Private Jet Pilots?
Recurrent training is essential for a pilot’s professional journey.
Some pilots have rotations, so they might work one month on or one month off, for example. Privately-owned and business-owned aircraft tend to be more scheduled and have regular clients. Working as a freelancer can be lucrative, and an experienced private jet pilot can demand upwards of $3,000 daily.
How do pilots qualify to fly private jets?
Of course, a young, inexperienced pilot will earn much less but is less likely to work as a private jet pilot. It is, however, possible to start out on smaller aircraft types or through a cadet scheme. Private pilot training is less rigorous and has fewer requirements than for commercial pilots. Student pilots begin by receiving their initial Private Pilot’s License (PPL) before working their way towards different flight ratings (such as IFR, Twin-engine, etc).
For starters, the nature of pilot experience is vastly different, as many different skills may be required to pilot private aircraft to commercial ones. Accumulating flying hours, experience, and achieving higher ranks with a private jet company enables greater earning potential. Very experienced pilots working on a Global 5000 or Gulfstream G650 will often be working on complex operations and long-haul flights, so they will be paid more than a pilot working on, for example, a Pilatus PC-24.
According to the Epic Flight Academy, some pilots may have another role within the company, such as chief pilot, director of flight operations or head of training. This may increase the salary further but also involves further duties and responsibilities. However, working for a private jet operator is often less stable than working for the airlines.
Photo: BlueBarronPhoto | Shutterstock
However, despite industry hiring freezes like that recently imposed by Southwest Airlines, many younger pilots find it challenging to land full-time positions at established carriers. There is no shortage of jobs available in private aviation, with the industry continuing to boom. The best time to be a private jet pilot might just be upon us.
What is the highest-paying pilot job?
Private jet pilots
Ziprecruiter.com provides a range of private pilot salaries based on geographical location, experience, and company size. The salaries range from $49,500 a year to as high as $201,000 annually. The agency suggests that the average annual salary of a private jet pilot in the United States is $130,915.
Photo: NASJET
With an average of 8-hour work shifts five days a week, it comes out to be $2,500 a week or $65 an hour. Most private jet pilot salaries are between $100,000 (25 percentile) and $155,000 (75 percentile), justifying the $131,000 average salary range. In the Western United States, a large group of top salary earners take as high as $175,000 annually.
| Location | Annual Salary | Hourly Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond, CA | $164,003 | $78.85 |
| Altadena, CA | $162,989 | $78.36 |
| Bellevue, WA | $161,606 | $77.70 |
| Santa Clara, CA | $155,860 | $74.93 |
| Pasadena, CA | $154,964 | $74.50 |
| Belmont, CA | $154,309 | $74.19 |
| Suitland, MD | $153,920 | $74.00 |
| Belgrade, MT | $153,137 | $73.62 |
| Federal Way, WA | $153,083 | $73.60 |
| Palmdale, CA | $153,040 | $73.58 |
Commercial pilots
Commercial pilot salaries greatly differ based on the rank, experience, aircraft type, and the airline. Some budget carriers are known to offer less pay than legacy carriers, particularly those in the Middle East. Annual pilot salary data by Pro-Pilots Salary Study, shows that commercial Airbus A320 pilots earn between $90,000 and $235,000 annually.
|
Position |
Salary range |
|---|---|
|
First Officer |
$90,000 – $114,000 |
|
Captain |
$165,000 – $206,000 |
|
Chief pilot |
$211,000 – $235,000 |
Photo: G-Stock Studio | Shutterstock
The perks
Perks of the job include better hotels (usually 5-star) and business class travel to the base for duty. Per diems – paid for every night away from the base – are a bonus. It depends on who you work for, but destinations are often considered glamorous and interesting. For example, popular European cities include Paris, Geneva, London, Nice, and Rome.
Photo: Ceri Breeze | Shutterstock
Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Aspen, New York, and Hawaii are favorite destinations in the US. Another bonus could be the addition of tips, especially when operating charter flights for VIPs. However, working on a private jet is always interesting, challenging and rewarding work.
The bottom line
At the end of the day, becoming a private pilot comes along with significantly higher variability than a commercial one. On scheduled commercial airlines, one can pretty much always be sure of exactly what you can expect in terms of salary and benefits over time. In private aviation, the ceiling is significantly higher, but that being said, the floor also sits significantly lower.
