What is the average annual salary of an airline pilot?

The average annual salary of an airline pilot is $121,914, though the annual salary of an airline pilot depends largely on the airline company. For instance, an airline pilot for American Airlines makes roughly $134,304 per year while ABX Air pays its airline pilots around $153,772.

An airline pilot spends most of his time in an aircraft and works for airlines which transport people and cargo on a fixed schedule. Most pilots enjoy a flexible schedule but often have to spend a hefty amount of time away from home due to overnight layovers. In order to become an airline pilot, a person must acquire a commercial pilot's license from the Federal Aviation Administration and additionally an Airline Transport Pilot certificate.