Business aviation salary increases have ebbed from the past two years but were still twice the national average, according to NBAA’s 2024 Compensation Survey.
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The average salary increase in business aviation dipped in 2024 compared with the prior two years but still was up 8% year over year across the board, according to NBAA’s recently released 2024 Compensation Survey. This increase was twice the national average, NBAA added.
NBAA’s survey drew responses from 459 participants, representing 4,578 aviation-specific employees. Respondents reported on 19 different aviation-specific positions.
According to the responses, chief pilots’ and senior captains’ typical salaries are nearly double that of a copilot. Bonuses have become a key element of pilot pay, on average providing an additional 13% of pay, on par with the 14% in 2023 and 13% reported in 2022.
Chief pilots and senior captains at the largest companies (those with $10 billion or more in corporate sales) typically received bonuses representing 22% and 20%, respectively, of additional pay. Meanwhile, a copilot at a company with $100 million or less in annual sales typically saw a 4% bonus.
Conversely, the smallest companies reported the largest salary increase budgets. This continued a trend from 2023. When broken down by FAA region, salary increases were highest in the Northwest and Southern territories.
As far as retention, 36% of the surveyed company respondents reported using retention bonuses, while 19% offered deferred compensation and 28% provided longer-term incentives/equity.
Consistent with past surveys, pilots flying the heaviest business aircraft are paid 40% more than the average pilot. The hotels and lodging industry topped the board for highest average pilot pay, 33% more than the national average. The highest pilot salary on average was found in the New England region, some 31% more than the national average. Pilots who have been with a company for more than 10 years typically make 27% more than average.
NBAA Survey Reveals Pilot Salary Increases Are Easing
Newsletter Body
While the average salary increase in business aviation dipped in 2024 compared with the prior two years, it was up 8% year over year across the board, according to NBAA’s recently released 2024 Compensation Survey. This increase was twice the national average, NBAA added.
The survey drew responses from 459 participants, representing 4,578 employees. Respondents reported on 19 different aviation-specific positions.
According to the responses, chief pilots’ and senior captains’ typical salaries are nearly double that of a copilot—a chief pilot on average makes 194% more. Bonuses have become a key element of pilot pay, on average providing an additional 13%, on par with the 14% and 13% reported in 2023 and 2022, respectively.
Chief pilots and senior captains at the largest companies (those with $10 billion or more in corporate sales) typically received bonuses representing 22% and 20%, respectively, of additional pay. Meanwhile, a copilot at a company with $100 million or less in annual sales typically saw a 4% bonus.
Conversely, the smallest companies reported the largest salary increases, continuing a trend from 2023. Salary increases were highest in the U.S. Northwest and Southern regions. Consistent with past surveys, pilots flying the heaviest business aircraft are paid 40% more than the average pilot. The highest pilot salary on average was found in the New England region, some 31% more than the national average.