National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Accountants earn a national median of $79,880/year vs Pilots at $203,010/year. Pilots earn 154% more nationally. The gap is $123,130 per year — or $10,261 per month.
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Accountant
$79,880
national median/year
$6,657/mo • $38/hr
VS
Pilot
$203,010
national median/year
$16,918/mo • $98/hr
Annual salary gap
$123,130
Pilots earn 154% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,395,715.
Best states for Pilots
vs Accountants
Hawaii+$143,690
Alaska+$139,690
California+$139,690
Washington+$139,690
Virginia+$135,690
Best states for Accountants
vs Pilots
Arkansas+$-89,690
Mississippi+$-89,690
West Virginia+$-89,690
North Dakota+$-93,690
Alabama+$-97,690
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Pilots earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Accountants is $79,880 versus $203,010 for Pilots — a difference of $123,130 per year or $10,261 per month.
The national median salary gap between Accountants and Pilots is $123,130 per year. Pilots earn 154% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,395,715.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Accountants the highest median salary at $98,320 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Pilots the highest median salary at $238,010 per year.
Salary is one factor — Pilots earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Accountants and Auditors and Airline and Commercial Pilots both have different educational paths, licensing requirements, and long-term growth projections. Use salary as a starting point, not the only factor.
Based on a standard 2,080-hour work year, Accountants earn approximately $38 per hour nationally and Pilots earn approximately $98 per hour. Actual hourly rates vary based on overtime, part-time work, and whether the role is salaried or hourly.
Methodology: Salary data from Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024-2025. Figures represent median annual wages for wage and salary workers. Self-employed excluded. Hourly rates calculated at 2,080 hours per year. State salary figures from same BLS OES dataset. Updated annually.
