Working as a corporate pilot can be an exciting and lucrative career. In this article, we will provide a complete overview of corporate pilot pay, specifically focusing on the compensation for corporate jet pilots. Whether you are an aspiring pilot or a seasoned professional in the aviation industry, understanding industry trends in corporate pilot pay is crucial for making informed career decisions.
Most salaries are set by aircraft flown – with larger and more capable airplanes typically having higher salaries. The following information includes pay for the different types of corporate jet operations, which include working directly for a corporation or private individual, working as a charter pilot, or working for a corporate jet fractional company.
This segment covers those pilots that work directly for a corporation or private individual. Figures provide are based on an annual survey conducted in 2023 by Pro Pilot Magazine
Airplane Type | Average | Low | High |
---|---|---|---|
Heavy / International Jets | |||
Airbus ACJ318/319 | 175,000 | 157,000 | 218,000 |
Boeing 737/BBJ | 174,000 | 158,000 | 212,000 |
Challenger 600/601 | 147,000 | 124,000 | 179,000 |
Challenger 604/605 | 166,000 | 130,000 | 214,000 |
Challenger 650 | 172,000 | 137,000 | 230,000 |
Falcon 7X/8X | 177,000 | 142,000 | 219,000 |
Falcon 900/900EX | 169,000 | 124,000 | 213,000 |
Global Express/5000/6000 | 194,000 | 147,000 | 249,000 |
Global 7500 | 200,000 | 151,000 | 252,000 |
Gulfstream IV/G450 | 178,000 | 134,000 | 221,000 |
Gulfstream V/G550 | 194,000 | 148,000 | 241,000 |
Gulfstream G500/G600 | 199,000 | 152,000 | 248,000 |
Gulfstream G650 | 203,000 | 158,000 | 254,000 |
Large Jets | |||
Falcon 2000/2000EX/LX | 160,000 | 120,000 | 204,000 |
Gulfstream III | 134,000 | 111,000 | 169,000 |
Super-Midsize Jets | |||
Challenger 300/350 | 146,000 | 118,000 | 179,000 |
Citation Latitude | 149,000 | 122,000 | 178,000 |
Citation Longitude | 143,000 | 115,000 | 172,000 |
Citation X | 150,000 | 123,000 | 179,000 |
Embraer Legacy 600 | 131,000 | 107,000 | 159,000 |
Embraer Legacy 450/500 | 147,000 | 121,000 | 174,000 |
Embraer Praetor 500/600 | 146,000 | 117,000 | 181,000 |
Falcon 50/50EX | 136,000 | 110,000 | 169,000 |
Gulfstream Galaxy/ G200/G280 | 144,000 | 114,000 | 179,000 |
Midsize Jets | |||
Citation Excel/XLS | 115,000 | 97,000 | 147,000 |
Citation Sovereign | 136,000 | 109,000 | 151,000 |
Falcon 20/200 | 103,000 | 88,000 | 130,000 |
Gulfstream Astra/G100/G150 | 126,000 | 102,000 | 149,000 |
Hawker 800/800XP/1000 | 124,000 | 101,000 | 152,000 |
Hawker 850/850XP/900/900XP | 129,000 | 107,000 | 153,000 |
Learjet 35/36 | 94,000 | 84,000 | 117,000 |
Learjet 40/40XR/45/45XR | 116,000 | 97,000 | 138,000 |
Learjet 55/60/60XR | 121,000 | 103,000 | 140,000 |
Learjet 70/75 | 125,000 | 110,000 | 144,000 |
Light Jets | |||
Beechjet 400/Hawker 400XP | 102,000 | 89,000 | 123,000 |
Cirrus Vision Jet | 86,000 | 77,000 | 106,000 |
CitationJet/CJ1/CJ2/M2 | 93,000 | 82,000 | 111,000 |
Citation II/SII/Bravo/CJ3/CJ4 | 102,000 | 84,000 | 130,000 |
Citation V/Ultra/Encore | 109,000 | 88,000 | 136,000 |
Citation Mustang | 85,000 | 77,000 | 104,000 |
Embraer Phenom 100 | 89,000 | 81,000 | 109,000 |
Embraer Phenom 300 | 98,000 | 85,000 | 122,000 |
HondaJet HA420 | 89,000 | 81,000 | 109,000 |
Premier 1 | 96,000 | 81,000 | 113,000 |
Pilatus PC-24 | 102,000 | 84,000 | 131,000 |
Airplane Type | Average | Low | High |
---|---|---|---|
Heavy / International Jets | |||
Airbus ACJ318/319 | 108,000 | 96,000 | 121,000 |
Boeing 737/BBJ | 111,000 | 99,000 | 120,000 |
Challenger 600/601 | 96,000 | 87,000 | 111,000 |
Challenger 604/605 | 108,000 | 100,000 | 118,000 |
Challenger 650 | 114,000 | 107,000 | 125,000 |
Falcon 7X/8X | 112,000 | 102,000 | 124,000 |
Falcon 900/900EX | 110,000 | 99,000 | 120,000 |
Global Express/5000/6000 | 117,000 | 102,000 | 130,000 |
Global 7500 | 130,000 | 115,000 | 140,000 |
Gulfstream IV/G450 | 114,000 | 100,000 | 125,000 |
Gulfstream V/G550 | 120,000 | 104,000 | 136,000 |
Gulfstream G500/G600 | 121,000 | 107,000 | 137,000 |
Gulfstream G650 | 124,000 | 110,000 | 140,000 |
Large Jets | |||
Falcon 2000/2000EX/LX | 104,000 | 90,000 | 118,000 |
Gulfstream III | 98,000 | 82,000 | 110,000 |
Super-Midsize Jets | |||
Challenger 300/350 | 98,000 | 82,000 | 109,000 |
Citation Latitude | 101,000 | 83,000 | 112,000 |
Citation Longitude | 94,000 | 78,000 | 107,000 |
Citation X | 103,000 | 87,000 | 116,000 |
Embraer Legacy 600 | 88,000 | 75,000 | 105,000 |
Embraer Legacy 450/500 | 97,000 | 76,000 | 109,000 |
Embraer Praetor 500/600 | 98,000 | 81,000 | 112,000 |
Falcon 50/50EX | 95,000 | 76,000 | 106,000 |
Gulstream Galaxy/G200/G280 | 88,000 | 72,000 | 107,000 |
Midsize Jets | |||
Citation Excel/XLS | 74,000 | 66,000 | 87,000 |
Citation Sovereign | 86,000 | 72,000 | 104,000 |
Falcon 20/200 | 68,000 | 55,000 | 81,000 |
Gulfstream Astra/G100/G150 | 72,000 | 63,000 | 90,000 |
Hawker 800/800XP/1000 | 80,000 | 70,000 | 100,000 |
Hawker 850/850XP/900/900XP | 86,000 | 75,000 | 106,000 |
Learjet 35/36 | 64,000 | 54,000 | 75,000 |
Learjet 40/40XR/45/45XR | 77,000 | 63,000 | 88,000 |
Learjet 55/60/60XR | 82,000 | 72,000 | 98,000 |
Learjet 70/75 | 85,000 | 74,000 | 101,000 |
Light Jets | |||
Beechjet 400/Hawker 400XP | 63,000 | 57,000 | 75,000 |
CitationJet/CJ1/CJ2/M2 | 61,000 | 51,000 | 70,000 |
Citation II/SII/Bravo/CJ3/CJ4 | 66,000 | 61,000 | 75,000 |
Citation V/Ultra/Encore | 68,000 | 63,000 | 76,000 |
This segment covers those pilots that work for charter operations. Charter planes are made available to the public on a fee per flight basis and are generally operated under Part 135 of the Federal Code of Regulations. Part 135 operators work under stricter and more complex rules than general aviation, and pilots have to attend more rigourous and thorough training and checking.
Figures provide are based on an annual survey conducted in 2023 by Pro Pilot Magazine
Airplane Type | Average | Low | High |
---|---|---|---|
Heavy / International Jets | |||
Airbus ACJ318/319 | 175,000 | 143,000 | 195,000 |
Boeing 737/BBJ | 177,000 | 145,000 | 197,000 |
Challenger 600/601 | 124,000 | 116,000 | 155,000 |
Challenger 604/605 | 144,000 | 127,000 | 172,000 |
Falcon 7X | 179,000 | 143,000 | 198,000 |
Falcon 900/900EX | 150,000 | 132,000 | 174,000 |
Global Express/5000/6000 | 171,000 | 136,000 | 190,000 |
Gulfstream IV/G450 | 161,000 | 133,000 | 187,000 |
Gulfstream V/G550 | 176,000 | 139,000 | 194,000 |
Gulfstream G500/G600 | 185,000 | 144,000 | 207,000 |
Gulfstream G650 | 190,000 | 150,000 | 212,000 |
Large Jets | |||
Falcon 2000/2000EX/LX | 146,000 | 121,000 | 167,000 |
Gulfstream III | 134,000 | 113,000 | 152,000 |
Super-Midsize Jets | |||
Challenger 300/350 | 138,000 | 109,000 | 162,000 |
Citation Longitude | 130,000 | 105,000 | 163,000 |
Citation X | 119,000 | 111,000 | 153,000 |
Embraer Legacy 600 | 117,000 | 108,000 | 136,000 |
Falcon 50 | 117,000 | 105,000 | 136,000 |
Gulfstream Galaxy/ G200/G280 | 122,000 | 103,000 | 142,000 |
Midsize Jets | |||
Citation Excel/XLS | 102,000 | 87,000 | 122,000 |
Citation Sovereign | 112,000 | 99,000 | 131,000 |
Falcon 20/200 | 103,000 | 88,000 | 130,000 |
Gulfstream Astra/G100/G150 | 109,000 | 94,000 | 131,000 |
Hawker 800/800XP/1000 | 112,000 | 94,000 | 132,000 |
Hawker 850/850XP/900/900XP | 120,000 | 100,000 | 140,000 |
Learjet 35/36 | 90,000 | 78,000 | 109,000 |
Learjet 40/40XR/45/45XR | 100,000 | 87,000 | 117,000 |
Learjet 55/60 | 109,000 | 96,000 | 132,000 |
Learjet 75 | 115,000 | 97,000 | 138,000 |
Light Jets | |||
Beechjet 400/Hawker 400XP | 96,000 | 80,000 | 117,000 |
Cirrus Vision Jet | 84,000 | 73,000 | 103,000 |
CitationJet/CJ1/CJ2 | 85,000 | 76,000 | 104,000 |
Citation Bravo/CJ3/CJ4 | 95,000 | 78,000 | 109,000 |
Citation V/Ultra/Encore | 97,000 | 76,000 | 117,000 |
Embraer Phenom 100 | 82,000 | 72,000 | 98,000 |
Embraer Phenom 300 | 88,000 | 75,000 | 109,000 |
Airplane Type | Average | Low | High |
---|---|---|---|
Heavy / International Jets | |||
Airbus ACJ318/319 | 107,000 | 83,000 | 133,000 |
Boeing 737/BBJ | 105,000 | 81,000 | 132,000 |
Challenger 600/601 | 93,000 | 76,000 | 109,000 |
Challenger 604/605 | 98,000 | 79,000 | 116,000 |
Falcon 7X | 109,000 | 89,000 | 134,000 |
Falcon 900/900EX | 104,000 | 81,000 | 125,000 |
Global Express/5000/6000 | 106,000 | 83,000 | 127,000 |
Gulfstream IV/G450 | 102,000 | 75,000 | 112,000 |
Gulfstream V/G550 | 108,000 | 82,000 | 119,000 |
Gulfstream G500/G600 | 114,000 | 89,000 | 125,000 |
Gulfstream G650 | 119,000 | 96,000 | 135,000 |
Large Jets | |||
Falcon 2000/2000EX/LX | 102,000 | 81,000 | 120,000 |
Gulfstream III | 80,000 | 70,000 | 101,000 |
Super-Midsize Jets | |||
Challenger 300/350 | 80,000 | 69,000 | 105,000 |
Citation X | 81,000 | 72,000 | 104,000 |
Embraer Legacy 600 | 73,000 | 65,000 | 90,000 |
Falcon 50 | 74,000 | 66,000 | 89,000 |
Gulfstream Galaxy/ G200/G280 | 73,000 | 67,000 | 93,000 |
Midsize Jets | |||
Citation Excel/XLS | 74,000 | 62,000 | 96,000 |
Citation Sovereign | 75,000 | 66,000 | 98,000 |
Gulfstream Astra/G100/G150 | 72,000 | 61,000 | 90,000 |
Hawker 800/800XP/1000 | 73,000 | 61,000 | 94,000 |
Hawker 850/850XP/900/900XP | 75,000 | 63,000 | 96,000 |
Learjet 35/36 | 63,000 | 53,000 | 75,000 |
Learjet 40/40XR/45/45XR | 65,000 | 55,000 | 79,000 |
Learjet 55/60 | 70,000 | 61,000 | 88,000 |
Learjet 75 | 76,000 | 67,000 | 97,000 |
Light Jets | |||
Beechjet 400/Hawker 400XP | 62,000 | 54,000 | 72,000 |
CitationJet/CJ1/CJ2 | 60,000 | 51,000 | 70,000 |
Citation Bravo/CJ3/CJ4 | 63,000 | 56,000 | 72,000 |
Citation V/Ultra/Encore | 66,000 | 58,000 | 76,000 |
Fractional operators allow corporations or private individuals to own a share in an airplane – and make planes in that fleet type available on an as-needed basis to the owner. The fraction level an owner has determines the amount of hours available to them for flying.
Fractional aircraft companies are among the largest corporate jet operators. Most pilot jobs with fractional companies provide set schedules for pilots with set days off each month.
As with Charter operations, Fractional Operators fly under Part 135 of the Federal Code of Regulations. Part 135 operators work under stricter and more complex rules than general aviation, and pilots have to attend more rigourous and thorough training and checking.
Some fractional operators pay pilots based on the airplane they fly. Others pay corporate pilots based on their schedule rather than airplane type.
YEAR | Phenom First Officer | Phenom Captain | Phenom Captain / Challenger First Officer | Challenger Captain | Challenger Captain / Phenom Captain |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 70,000 | 130,000 | 135,000 | 140,000 | 145,000 |
2 | 72,000 | 133,000 | 138,000 | 144,000 | 149,000 |
3 | 74,000 | 136,000 | 141,000 | 148,000 | 153,000 |
4 | 76,000 | 139,000 | 144,000 | 152,000 | 157,000 |
5 | 78,000 | 142,000 | 147,000 | 156,000 | 161,000 |
6 | 80,000 | 145,000 | 150,000 | 160,000 | 165,000 |
7 | 82,000 | 148,000 | 153,000 | 164,000 | 169,000 |
8 | 84,000 | 151,000 | 156,000 | 168,000 | 173,000 |
9 | 86,000 | 154,000 | 159,000 | 172,000 | 177,000 |
10 | 88,000 | 157,000 | 162,000 | 176,000 | 181,000 |
11 | 90,000 | 160,000 | 165,000 | 180,000 | 185,000 |
12 | 92,000 | 163,000 | 168,000 | 184,000 | 189,000 |
13 | 94,000 | 166,000 | 171,000 | 188,000 | 193,000 |
14 | 96,000 | 169,000 | 174,000 | 192,000 | 197,000 |
15 | 98,000 | 172,000 | 177,000 | 196,000 | 201,000 |
16 | 100,000 | 175,000 | 180,000 | 200,000 | 205,000 |
17 | 102,000 | 178,000 | 183,000 | 204,000 | 209,000 |
18 | 104,000 | 181,000 | 186,000 | 208,000 | 213,000 |
19 | 106,000 | 184,000 | 189,000 | 212,000 | 217,000 |
20 | 108,000 | 187,000 | 192,000 | 216,000 | 221,000 |
21 | 110,000 | 190,000 | 195,000 | 220,000 | 225,000 |
22 | 112,000 | 193,000 | 198,000 | 224,000 | 229,000 |
23 | 114,000 | 196,000 | 201,000 | 228,000 | 233,000 |
24 | 116,000 | 199,000 | 204,000 | 232,000 | 237,000 |
25 | 118,000 | 202,000 | 207,000 | 236,000 | 241,000 |
26 | 120,000 | 205,000 | 210,000 | 240,000 | 245,000 |
27 | 122,000 | 208,000 | 213,000 | 244,000 | 249,000 |
28 | 124,000 | 211,000 | 216,000 | 248,000 | 253,000 |
29 | 126,000 | 214,000 | 219,000 | 252,000 | 257,000 |
30 | 128,000 | 217,000 | 222,000 | 256,000 | 261,000 |
YEAR | 7/7 Schedule | 8/6 Schedule | CC52 Schedule | CC60 Schedule | CC72 Schedule | CC76 Schedule |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 115,332 | 133,785 | 109,565 | 115,332 | 140,000 | 149,932 |
2 | 122,953 | 142,625 | 116,805 | 122,953 | 150,003 | 159,839 |
3 | 132,342 | 153,518 | 125,725 | 132,342 | 161,457 | 172,045 |
4 | 139,715 | 162,069 | 132,729 | 139,715 | 170,453 | 181,629 |
5 | 147,497 | 171,097 | 140,122 | 147,497 | 179,947 | 191,746 |
6 | 152,659 | 177,085 | 145,027 | 152,659 | 186,244 | 198,457 |
7 | 158,002 | 183,283 | 150,103 | 158,002 | 192,763 | 205,403 |
8 | 163,533 | 189,698 | 155,356 | 163,533 | 199,510 | 212,592 |
9 | 169,255 | 196,336 | 160,793 | 169,255 | 206,492 | 220,032 |
10 | 175,182 | 203,210 | 166,423 | 175,182 | 213,722 | 227,736 |
11 | 181,310 | 210,319 | 172,245 | 181,310 | 221,199 | 235,703 |
12 | 187,656 | 217,681 | 178,273 | 187,656 | 228,941 | 243,953 |
13 | 194,226 | 225,303 | 184,515 | 194,226 | 236,956 | 252,494 |
14 | 201,021 | 233,185 | 190,970 | 201,021 | 245,245 | 261,327 |
15 | 209,065 | 242,515 | 198,612 | 209,065 | 255,059 | 271,784 |
16 | 217,427 | 252,216 | 206,556 | 217,427 | 265,261 | 282,655 |
17 | 226,123 | 262,302 | 214,817 | 226,123 | 275,870 | 293,960 |
YEAR | 7/7 Schedule | 8/6 Schedule | CC52 Schedule | CC60 Schedule | CC72 Schedule | CC76 Schedule |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 68,719 | 79,714 | 65,283 | 68,719 | 83,837 | 89,335 |
2 | 74,353 | 86,249 | 70,635 | 74,353 | 90,711 | 96,659 |
3 | 81,231 | 96,113 | 77,170 | 81,231 | 99,103 | 105,601 |
4 | 87,035 | 102,980 | 82,684 | 87,035 | 106,183 | 113,146 |
5 | 93,257 | 108,178 | 88,594 | 93,257 | 113,773 | 121,233 |
6 | 97,965 | 113,639 | 93,066 | 97,965 | 119,517 | 127,354 |
7 | 102,906 | 119,371 | 97,761 | 102,906 | 125,545 | 133,778 |
8 | 108,102 | 125,398 | 102,697 | 108,102 | 131,885 | 140,532 |
9 | 113,558 | 131,727 | 107,880 | 113,558 | 138,540 | 147,625 |
10 | 119,105 | 138,162 | 113,150 | 119,105 | 145,308 | 154,836 |
11 | 123,340 | 143,075 | 117,173 | 123,340 | 150,475 | 160,342 |
12 | 127,785 | 148,230 | 121,396 | 127,785 | 155,898 | 166,121 |
13 | 132,257 | 153,419 | 125,644 | 132,257 | 161,353 | 171,935 |
14 | 136,887 | 158,788 | 130,042 | 136,887 | 167,002 | 177,953 |
15 | 142,364 | 165,142 | 135,245 | 142,364 | 173,684 | 185,073 |
16 | 148,058 | 171,746 | 140,655 | 148,058 | 180,631 | 192,476 |
17 | 153,980 | 178,616 | 146,281 | 153,980 | 187,855 | 200,174 |
YEAR | PC-12 Captain | PC-24 Captain | PC-24 First Officer |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 65,000 | 105,000 | 42,500 |
2 | 70,000 | 110,000 | 45,000 |
3 | 75,000 | 115,000 | 45,000 |
4 | 80,000 | 120,000 | 45,000 |
5 | 85,000 | 125,000 | 45,000 |
6 | 90,000 | 130,000 | 45,000 |
7 | 95,000 | 135,000 | 45,000 |
8 | 100,000 | 140,000 | 45,000 |
9 | 105,000 | 145,000 | 45,000 |
10 | 110,000 | 150,000 | 45,000 |
11 | 112,750 | 155,000 | 45,000 |
12 | 115,569 | 160,000 | 45,000 |
13 | 118,458 | 165,000 | 45,000 |
14 | 121,419 | 170,000 | 45,000 |
15 | 124,455 | 175,100 | 45,000 |
16 | 127,566 | 180,353 | 45,000 |
17 | 130,755 | 184,481 | 45,000 |
18 | 134,024 | 190,016 | 45,000 |
YEAR | Phenom 300 - Captain | Challenger 350 - Captain | Challenger 300 - Captain | First Officer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 650 | 741 | 766 | 513 |
2 | 670 | 765 | 766 | 528 |
3 | 690 | 790 | 766 | 544 |
4 | 710 | 816 | 755 | 561 |
5 | 732 | 842 | 755 | 577 |
6 | 754 | 869 | 733 | 577 |
7 | 776 | 898 | 721 | 577 |
8 | 799 | 927 | 711 | 577 |
9 | 823 | 957 | 698 | 577 |
10 | 848 | 988 | 670 | 577 |
11 | 874 | 1020 | 650 | 577 |
12 | 900 | 1053 | 631 | 577 |
13 | 927 | 1080 | 618 | 577 |
14 | 955 | 1123 | 602 | 577 |
15 | 983 | 1160 | 574 | 577 |
16 | 1013 | 1197 | 548 | 577 |
17 | 1043 | 1236 | 506 | 577 |
18 | 1074 | 1276 | 497 | 577 |
Greg started his professional pilot journey in 2002 after graduating from Embry Riddle. Since that time he has accumulated over 8,000 hours working as a pilot. Greg’s professional experience includes flight instructing, animal tracking, backcountry flying, forest firefighting, passenger charter, part 135 cargo, flying for a regional airline, a national low cost airline, a legacy airline, and also working as a manager in charge of Part 135 and Part 121 training programs.