Commercial Pilots Salary Trend (2011–2024)
Historical salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Median Salary in 2024
$122,670
↑ 75.2% since 2011
Median Salary Over Time
Commercial Pilots — Median Annual Salary
Employment Over Time
Commercial Pilots — Total Employment
Key Insights
📈Salaries grew 75.2% since 2011 ($70,000 → $122,670)
🏆Peak year: 2024 at $122,670
🦠COVID impact: Salary rose 8.4% from 2019 to 2020, likely reflecting workforce composition changes.
💰After inflation (~3%/yr), real growth is approximately +19%
Year-by-Year Salary Data
| Year | Median Salary | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $122,670 | +8.5% |
| 2023 | $113,080 | +8.8% |
| 2022 | $103,910 | +4.3% |
| 2021 | $99,640 | +6.8% |
| 2020 | $93,300 | +8.4% |
| 2019 | $86,080 | +4.7% |
| 2018 | $82,240 | +4.4% |
| 2017 | $78,740 | +2.0% |
| 2016 | $77,200 | +1.4% |
| 2015 | $76,150 | +0.7% |
| 2014 | $75,620 | +1.5% |
| 2013 | $74,470 | +1.6% |
| 2012 | $73,280 | +4.7% |
| 2011 | $70,000 | — |
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2011–2024. All figures are annual median wages in nominal dollars.