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The Global Insight

How much do military aviators make?

Author

James Olson

Updated on March 26, 2026

An Air Force pilot salary depends on the pilot’s rank and how long they’ve been in the military. An entry-level officer with three years of experience earns about $47,000 annually, as of 2017. A top-ranking colonel with three years of experience earns about $92,000 annually.

How much do Army Black Hawk pilots make?

Blackhawk Pilot Salaries

Job TitleSalary
US Army UH-60 Blackhawk Instructor Pilot salaries – 3 salaries reported$81,470/yr
US Army UH-60 Blackhawk Pilot salaries – 1 salaries reported$74,426/yr
US Army UH-60 Blackhawk Pilot salaries – 1 salaries reported$6,632/mo

How much does a US Navy jet pilot make?

Salary Ranges for Navy Fighter Pilots The salaries of Navy Fighter Pilots in the US range from $60,770 to $187,200 , with a median salary of $117,290 . The middle 60% of Navy Fighter Pilots makes $117,290, with the top 80% making $187,200.

Is being a military Pilot worth it?

If you’re asking the question “Is it worth it to become a fighter pilot?” then, no, it’s probably not worth it to you. Those of us that made it spent every waking moment thinking and hoping and working to get here. Becoming a fighter pilot for us was the realization of a life-long dream.

How hard is Army flight school?

What makes military flight school hard is the curriculum compacts a lot of material into the shortest amount of time as possible. It all has to do with money since training a pilot comes at a high cost. You trying to learn what many people learn in 4 years crammed into 18–24 months.

What is the highest rank for a pilot?

Captain
Captain. The Captain (sometimes referred to as ‘Pilot’) is ultimately in charge of the aircraft, it’s crew and occupants, unless they are flying with a Training Captain (where the Training Captain would be in charge). The Captain wear 4 stripes on their uniform.

Is being a military pilot dangerous?

The results show that three aircraft have a probability >20% of one fatality occurring. However, the results also show that fighter pilots are not the only ones who face a constant risk; transport and training aircraft also presented a high probability of accidents or fatalities, showing how risky military aviation is.

Do fighter pilots get weekends off?

Yes I do get weekends off.

Is it hard to become a military pilot?

Active Duty – The Hard Way to Become a Pilot Just getting into a service academy is extremely competitive, and getting a pilot slot upon graduation narrows that field. (At the Air Force Academy, the selection rate for people who want to be pilots is about 95%.)

How much does a military pilot make per month?

O-5: $81,191 to $101,354. Aviation Incentive Pay Military pilots also receive what they call flight pay and the military refers to as aviation career incentive pay. This extra pay starts at $125 per month for a second lieutenant and tops out at $840 for an aviator with more than 14 years of flight status.

How much does an army captain make per month?

Using the Army’s average promotion schedule, officers will achieve the next rank automatically after four years in the service. New captains and lieutenants, with four years of service, make $5,671 per month. At this rank, officers will receive pay raises every two years. O-4: $86,832

How much does an Air Force officer make?

Using the pay scales and the time in the service when an officer would usually be promoted to the next rank, here are the base pay rates for officer ranks O-1 through O-5 in 2013. O-1: $33,941. O-2: $44,536 to $51,293.

How much money do people make in the military?

This is a list of the typical pay for military ranks, from entry-level Army privates who make $20,172 a year to Air Force generals who bring home $189,600.