Flight Test Pilot Salary in the United States

How much does a Flight Test Pilot make in the United States?

As of May 18, 2021, the average salary for a Flight Test Pilot in the United States is $100,714 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $48.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $116,131
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $90,618 to $108,784
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $81,427
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Paid Annually Paid Monthly Paid Semimonthly Paid Biweekly Paid Weekly Paid Hourly
View as table View as graph 25% $90,618 10% $81,427 90% $116,131 75% $108,784 $100,714 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Flight Test Pilot Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $108,784 $9,065 $2,092 $52
Average $100,714 $8,393 $1,937 $48
25th Percentile $90,618 $7,552 $1,743 $44
Check out Flight Test Pilot Job Openings in the United States
Principal Test Engineer

Sierra Nevada Corporation - Dayton, OH

PRINCIPAL TEST ENGINEER

Sierra Nevada Corporation - Dayton, OH

MAINTENANCE TEST PILOT

Occupational Safety & Health Administration - Middletown, OH

Advanced Lead Engineer

GE Aviation - Cincinnati, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Flight Test Pilot Salaries

A Flight Test 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 Flight Test Pilot Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Flight Test 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): $69,213
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $84,126
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $101,834
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $127,072
  • Expert (over 8 years): $153,689
Levels Salary
Quality A... Level Flight Test Pilot$69,213
Quality A... Level Flight Test Pilot$84,126
Flight Te... Level Flight Test Pilot$101,834
Quality A... Level Flight Test Pilot$127,072
Quality A... Level Flight Test Pilot$153,689
$69,213 0 yr
$84,126 < 2 yrs
$101,834 2-4 yrs
$127,072 5-8 yrs
$153,689 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Flight Test 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 Flight Test Pilots. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $111,510.
  • California: $111,087.
  • Massachusetts: $109,607.

Top Paying Cities for Flight Test 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: $127,030
  • San Francisco: $125,781
  • Oakland: $122,991

What Skills Can Increase a Flight Test Pilot's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 4.19% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Packaging (Mentioned in 2.11% Job Postings): Preparing products through wrapping or bottling to protect the goods from damages during transportation and storage.
  • Product Quality (Mentioned in 1.46% Job Postings): Product quality refers to how well a product satisfies customer needs, serves its purpose and meets industry standards. When evaluating product quality, businesses consider several key factors, including whether a product solves a problem, works efficiently or suits customers' purposes.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 4.19%
Packaging 2.11%
Product Quality 1.46%
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 Flight Test Pilot's salary.
  • Process Improvement: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Computer Science: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Process Improvement
 $104,742
4%
Computer Science
 $104,742
4%
Project Management
 $104,742
4%
Quality Management
 $104,742
4%
Leadership
 $104,742
4%
Change Control
 $104,742
4%
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How Education impacts a Flight Test Pilot's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Flight Test Pilots enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Flight Test Pilot with a Bachelor's Degree is between $100,752 and $105,909).

Flight Test Pilot Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Flight Test Pilot
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 12.9%
High School 12.9%
Associates 5.3%
Bachelors 57.6%
Masters 23.5%
Doctorate 0.6%
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Flight Test Pilot Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Flight Test 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.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on May 18, 2021
$90,618
Average $100,714/year
$108,784
$7,552
Average $8,393/month
$9,065
$1,743
Average $1,937/week
$2,092
$44
Average $48/hour
$52
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $108,784 $9,065 $2,092 $52
Average $100,714 $8,393 $1,937 $48
25th Percentile $90,618 $7,552 $1,743 $44

Salaries of jobs related to Flight Test Pilot

Salary Trends for Flight Test Pilot

Salaries for a Flight Test Pilot can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $88,911 in 2023 to around $88,686 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Flight Test Pilot salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Flight Test Pilot Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$88,911
2024
$89,320
2025
$88,686
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $88,911
2024 $89,320
2025 $88,686
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Flight Test Pilot

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Flight Test Pilot

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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.)

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