Based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data — updated September 10, 2026.
| North Carolina | National | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual salary | $151,540 | $294,133 | -48% |
| Median hourly wage | $72.86 | $141.41 | -48% |
Adjusted for local price levels (100 = national average), the cost-adjusted median is $160,700.
| City | Median | Entry Level | Experienced | Cost of Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City-level data coming soon. | ||||
The median annual salary for a Airline Pilot in North Carolina is $151,540, or about $72.86 per hour, according to BLS OEWS data.
The national median for Airline Pilots is $294,133. North Carolina is -48% below the national median.
Entry-level airline pilots in North Carolina typically earn from varies by experience depending on the city and employer.
With 2,240 airline pilot jobs on record and a median salary of $151,540, North Carolina offers competitive pay compared to the rest of the country.
By median annual wage, airline pilots rank 27 of the 745 occupations reported in North Carolina — higher than 96% of them.
Among occupations in the same job family, Air Traffic Controllers at $129,230, Commercial Pilots at $127,310, Transportation Inspectors at $84,470 — all figures are median annual wages for North Carolina.
No. Every figure on this page is a gross (pre-tax) wage. North Carolina levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 95.0 (100 = national average).
By median annual wage, airline pilots rank 27 of the 745 occupations reported in North Carolina — higher than 96% of them.
| Occupation in the same job family | Median in North Carolina | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Air Traffic Controllers | $129,230 | $410 |
| Commercial Pilots | $127,310 | $1,520 |
| Transportation Inspectors | $84,470 | $380 |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $69,170 | $490 |
| Ship Engineers | $65,010 | $90 |
| Crane and Tower Operators | $64,480 | $1,050 |
North Carolina levies a state income tax, so take-home pay is lower than the gross figures shown here. The state's cost of living index is 95.0 (100 = national average).
Ranking and comparison figures come from the same BLS OEWS release as the rest of this page, which covers 745 occupations in North Carolina.