Insight

Highest-Paying Aviation Careers

Pilot, engineer, ATC, and aviation leadership roles ranked by median compensation across global aviation hubs.

#	Role	Median Salary	Openings/mo	YoY Growth
1	Chief Operating Officer	$385k	90	+7%
2	Airport Director	$285k	180	+8%
3	Chief Pilot	$245k	320	+9%
4	Captain	$195k	6.2K	+12%
5	Business Aviation Manager	$195k	320	+10%
6	Private Jet Pilot	$175k	1.6K	+13%
7	Airline Operations Manager	$175k	1.1K	+11%
8	Flight Safety Manager	$155k	600	+10%
9	Flight Test Engineer	$145k	800	+11%
10	Cargo Pilot	$138k	3.2K	+14%
11	Airline Pilot	$135k	7.8K	+13%
12	Charter Operations Manager	$135k	600	+10%
13	Aerodynamics Engineer	$125k	1.2K	+11%
14	Pilot	$115k	9.8K	+14%
15	Inflight Manager	$115k	600	+10%
16	Airport Operations Manager	$115k	3.2K	+12%
17	Cargo Operations Manager	$115k	1.8K	+12%
18	Aerospace Engineer	$115k	6.8K	+13%
19	Aircraft Design Engineer	$115k	3.4K	+12%
20	Systems Engineer	$115k	4.2K	+13%
21	Quality Assurance Manager	$115k	1.4K	+11%
22	Air Traffic Controller	$115k	4.2K	+12%
23	Airspace Planner	$115k	400	+9%
24	Aviation HR Manager	$115k	1.2K	+12%
25	Base Maintenance Engineer	$105k	4.4K	+13%
26	Charter Pilot	$102k	2.4K	+12%
27	Aircraft Maintenance Engineer	$98.0k	9.2K	+14%
28	Line Maintenance Engineer	$98.0k	6.2K	+14%
29	First Officer	$92.0k	12.8K	+16%
30	Regulatory Compliance Specialist	$92.0k	2.2K	+12%
31	Commercial Pilot	$78.0k	8.2K	+15%
32	Airport Duty Manager	$78.0k	1.8K	+11%
33	Aviation Safety Officer	$78.0k	2.8K	+14%
34	Flight Instructor	$72.0k	3.2K	+14%
35	Flight Dispatcher	$72.0k	3.8K	+13%
36	Avionics Technician	$72.0k	7.4K	+14%
37	Aviation Recruiter	$72.0k	4.4K	+19%
38	Cabin Supervisor	$62.0k	2.8K	+12%
39	Aircraft Technician	$62.0k	18K	+15%
40	Flight Coordinator	$62.0k	1.8K	+11%
41	Air Freight Specialist	$58.0k	6.2K	+14%
42	Aircraft Mechanic	$58.0k	14K	+14%
43	Senior Cabin Crew	$52.0k	8.2K	+14%
44	Airport Operations Officer	$52.0k	12K	+14%
45	Ramp Supervisor	$52.0k	8.4K	+13%
46	Cargo Supervisor	$52.0k	5.2K	+13%
47	Aviation Logistics Coordinator	$52.0k	3.4K	+13%
48	Ground Operations Executive	$44.0k	14K	+15%
49	Gate Agent	$36.0k	22K	+14%
50	Ramp Agent	$34.0k	42K	+16%
51	Passenger Service Agent	$34.0k	28K	+15%
52	Cargo Agent	$34.0k	14K	+15%
53	Cabin Crew	$32.0k	38K	+18%
54	Flight Attendant	$32.0k	36K	+17%

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