Yes, as a private pilot you can make money. In fact, in the USA, private pilots earn a handsome amount of money. The average salary of a private pilot in the USA is $93,902/year. The salary range of a private pilot is from $21,000 – $200,000.
Key Takeaways
- In the USA Private Pilot License is known as a Private Pilot Certificate
- A private pilot can legally fly small aircraft but they are not allowed to fly commercial airlines
- Hawaii is the highest paying USA state for private pilots with an average annual salary of $106,057
- You must have a U.S. student pilot certificate, sport pilot certificate, or recreational pilot certificate before you can apply for Private Pilot Certificate
- You must have 40 hours of flight time before you can qualify for the PPC practical test
What is a Private Pilot?
A private pilot is a certified aviation professional who can legally fly an aircraft. A private pilot is not the same as a commercial pilot. Commercial pilots can fly commercial airlines but a private pilot can’t fly commercial airlines. In fact, the certificate of a private pilot is different from a commercial pilot. A private pilot can fly small aircraft. In the USA, a private pilot license is known as a Private Pilot Certificate. If you successfully complete a private pilot certificate then you will have proper knowledge about small aircraft operation and maneuvers, navigation, flight planning, etc. Moreover, if you have Private Pilot Certificate (PPC) then you can become an instructor, an aircraft salesman, towing gliders and ultralights, etc., and make money.
Eligibility Requirements of a Private Pilot License in the USA
If you want to become a private pilot and planning to enroll for a private pilot license in the USA then you have to fulfill some eligibility requirements. They are –
- You must be at least 17 years old
- You must have an excellent command of the English language
- You must have a U.S. student pilot certificate, sport pilot certificate, or recreational pilot certificate
- You have received flight training and a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor
- You have to meet the minimum aeronautical experience requirements
- You also have to pass a practical test for the aircraft rating sought
Moreover, you have to meet the basic educational requirement and that is you must be at least a high school graduate. If you have knowledge and skills in math and physics then it will be a bonus for you.
State-wise Average Salary of Private Pilots in the USA
| Name of the State | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
| Hawaii Massachusetts Nevada Rhode Island Oregon Alaska North Dakota Washington New York South Dakota Maryland Virginia New Hampshire Nebraska Colorado California Delaware Idaho South Carolina Vermont Arkansas New Jersey Connecticut Kentucky Tennessee Oklahoma Michigan Arizona Maine Wyoming Minnesota Illinois Montana Indiana Missouri West Virginia Pennsylvania Texas Wisconsin Ohio Iowa Utah Kansas New Mexico Alabama North Carolina Mississippi Florida Georgia Louisiana | $106,057 $104,848 $104,126 $102,873 $101,344 $100,758 $99,933 $97,994 $95,562 $95,016 $93,650 $91,818 $90,140 $89,643 $89,593 $89,401 $89,199 $88,624 $88,182 $87,734 $87,414 $86,609 $85,146 $85,103 $84,889 $84,659 $84,595 $84,127 $83,662 $83,599 $83,200 $82,545 $82,388 $81,566 $81,343 $80,322 $78,848 $78,613 $78,563 $78,384 $77,628 $77,253 $75,221 $74,911 $74,458 $74,328 $73,314 $72,166 $67,285 $66,613 | $8,838 $8,737 $8,677 $8,572 $8,445 $8,396 $8,327 $8,166 $7,963 $7,918 $7,804 $7,651 $7,511 $7,470 $7,466 $7,450 $7,433 $7,385 $7,348 $7,311 $7,284 $7,217 $7,095 $7,091 $7,074 $7,054 $7,049 $7,010 $6,971 $6,966 $6,933 $6,878 $6,865 $6,797 $6,778 $6,693 $6,570 $6,551 $6,546 $6,532 $6,469 $6,437 $6,268 $6,242 $6,204 $6,194 $6,109 $6,013 $5,607 $5,551 | $2,039 $2,016 $2,002 $1,978 $1,948 $1,937 $1,921 $1,884 $1,837 $1,827 $1,800 $1,765 $1,733 $1,723 $1,722 $1,719 $1,715 $1,704 $1,695 $1,687 $1,681 $1,665 $1,637 $1,636 $1,632 $1,628 $1,626 $1,617 $1,608 $1,607 $1,600 $1,587 $1,584 $1,568 $1,564 $1,544 $1,516 $1,511 $1,510 $1,507 $1,492 $1,485 $1,446 $1,440 $1,431 $1,429 $1,409 $1,387 $1,293 $1,281 | $50.99 $50.41 $50.06 $49.46 $48.72 $48.44 $48.05 $47.11 $45.94 $45.68 $45.02 $44.14 $43.34 $43.10 $43.07 $42.98 $42.88 $42.61 $42.40 $42.18 $42.03 $41.64 $40.94 $40.92 $40.81 $40.70 $40.67 $40.45 $40.22 $40.19 $40.00 $39.69 $39.61 $39.21 $39.11 $38.62 $37.91 $37.79 $37.77 $37.68 $37.32 $37.14 $36.16 $36.02 $35.80 $35.73 $35.25 $34.70 $32.35 $32.03 |
Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Private Pilots in the USA
| Name of the City | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage |
| Atkinson, NE Bridgehampton, NY San Mateo, CA Boston, MA Daly City, CA Santa Monica, CA Deer Park, CA Morton, WA Covelo, CA Laytonville, CA | $129,738 $112,252 $110,662 $110,068 $108,583 $108,390 $108,074 $108,051 $107,680 $107,646 | $10,811 $9,354 $9,221 $9,172 $9,048 $9,032 $9,006 $9,004 $8,973 $8,970 | $2,494 $2,158 $2,128 $2,116 $2,088 $2,084 $2,078 $2,077 $2,070 $2,070 | $62.37 $53.97 $53.20 $52.92 $52.20 $52.11 $51.96 $51.95 $51.77 $51.75 |
State-wise Salary Comparison of Private Pilot and Commercial Pilots
| Name of the State | Private Pilot | Commercial Pilot | ||
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | |
| Hawaii Massachusetts Nevada Rhode Island Oregon Alaska North Dakota Washington New York South Dakota Maryland Virginia New Hampshire Nebraska Colorado California Delaware Idaho South Carolina Vermont Arkansas New Jersey Connecticut Kentucky Tennessee Oklahoma Michigan Arizona Maine Wyoming Minnesota Illinois Montana Indiana Missouri West Virginia Pennsylvania Texas Wisconsin Ohio Iowa Utah Kansas New Mexico Alabama North Carolina Mississippi Florida Georgia Louisiana | $106,057 $104,848 $104,126 $102,873 $101,344 $100,758 $99,933 $97,994 $95,562 $95,016 $93,650 $91,818 $90,140 $89,643 $89,593 $89,401 $89,199 $88,624 $88,182 $87,734 $87,414 $86,609 $85,146 $85,103 $84,889 $84,659 $84,595 $84,127 $83,662 $83,599 $83,200 $82,545 $82,388 $81,566 $81,343 $80,322 $78,848 $78,613 $78,563 $78,384 $77,628 $77,253 $75,221 $74,911 $74,458 $74,328 $73,314 $72,166 $67,285 $66,613 | $8,838 $8,737 $8,677 $8,572 $8,445 $8,396 $8,327 $8,166 $7,963 $7,918 $7,804 $7,651 $7,511 $7,470 $7,466 $7,450 $7,433 $7,385 $7,348 $7,311 $7,284 $7,217 $7,095 $7,091 $7,074 $7,054 $7,049 $7,010 $6,971 $6,966 $6,933 $6,878 $6,865 $6,797 $6,778 $6,693 $6,570 $6,551 $6,546 $6,532 $6,469 $6,437 $6,268 $6,242 $6,204 $6,194 $6,109 $6,013 $5,607 $5,551 | $65,699 $60,654 $58,694 $58,346 $57,165 $55,954 $55,812 $55,586 $55,387 $55,220 $55,021 $54,774 $54,640 $53,936 $53,697 $53,375 $53,263 $53,039 $52,820 $52,708 $51,976 $51,913 $51,688 $51,647 $51,631 $51,617 $51,597 $51,326 $50,920 $50,865 $50,735 $50,550 $50,462 $50,046 $49,332 $48,615 $48,426 $48,075 $47,979 $47,935 $47,428 $47,221 $46,377 $45,892 $45,843 $45,684 $44,729 $44,278 $41,283 $40,724 | $5,474 $5,054 $4,891 $4,862 $4,763 $4,662 $4,651 $4,632 $4,615 $4,601 $4,585 $4,564 $4,553 $4,494 $4,474 $4,447 $4,438 $4,419 $4,401 $4,392 $4,331 $4,326 $4,307 $4,303 $4,302 $4,301 $4,299 $4,277 $4,243 $4,238 $4,227 $4,212 $4,205 $4,170 $4,111 $4,051 $4,035 $4,006 $3,998 $3,994 $3,952 $3,935 $3,864 $3,824 $3,820 $3,807 $3,727 $3,689 $3,440 $3,393 |
References:
https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-61#61.103
https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/What-Is-the-Average-Private-Pilot-Salary-by-State
Last Updated on December 25, 2023 by Magalie D.
Magalie D. is a Diploma holder in Public Administration & Management from McGill University of Canada. She shares management tips here in MGTBlog when she has nothing to do and gets some free time after working in a multinational company at Toronto.
