As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Test Pilot in the United States is $128,863. According to Salary.com, salaries can range from a low of $108,496 to a high of $152,895, with most professionals earning between $118,202 and $141,442.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $141,442 | $11,787 | $2,720 | $68 |
| Average | $128,863 | $10,739 | $2,478 | $62 |
| 25th Percentile | $118,202 | $9,850 | $2,273 | $57 |
An entry-level Test Pilot with less than 1 year of experience earns about $124,089. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $124,885. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $126,476. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $131,116, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $135,434.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Test Pilot | $124,089 |
| Intermediate Level Test Pilot | $124,885 |
| Senior Level Test Pilot | $126,476 |
| Specialist Level Test Pilot | $131,116 |
| Expert Level Test Pilot | $135,434 |
| Entry Level | 4% |
| Mid Level | 3% |
| Senior Level | 2% |
| Top Level | 2% |
| Experienced | 5% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Test Pilot compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $101,595 in 2023 to approximately $96,612 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Test Pilot salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Test Pilot information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Test Pilot job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Test Pilot and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $128,863 | 72.4% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $9,858 | 5.5% | ||
| 401K/403B | $5,412 | 3.0% | ||
| Disability | $2,577 | 1.4% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 4.7% | ||
| Pension | $6,959 | 3.9% | ||
| Time Off | $15,860 | 8.9% | ||
| Total Compensation | $177,881 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| High School | 18.2% |
| Bachelors | 9.1% |
| Masters | 72.7% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Test Pilot is $128,863. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Test Pilot is $62; the average weekly pay of Test Pilot is $2,478; the average monthly pay of Test Pilot is $10,739.
A Test Pilot's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Test Pilot earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Test Pilot is $162,535.
The highest pay for Test Pilot is $152,895.
The lowest pay for Test Pilot is $108,496.
Pilots new or modified aircraft to test functionality and ensure compliance with federal regulations and product specifications. Follows all regulatory policies and procedures when conducting flight operations. Pilots aircraft and performs maneuvers in various conditions to test and validate functionality, capabilities, and safety of features. Collects and documents data utilizing specialized tools and professional observations. Prepares reports that summarize findings and recommendations. May pilot demonstrations for officials or customers to exhibit performance and capabilities. Requires a high school diploma. Requires FAA Commercial Pilot's License. Typically reports to a manager. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. Contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Typically requires 4-7 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Planning: An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
Test Engineering: Designing and facilitating tests to ensure the quality, functionality, and alignment of products with the established specifications.
Physiology: It is the branch of biology that aims to understand the mechanisms of living things, from the basis of cell function at the ionic and molecular level to the integrated behaviour of the whole body and the influence of the external environment.
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.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
