National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Construction Managers earn a national median of $104,900/year vs Pilots at $203,010/year. Pilots earn 94% more nationally. The gap is $98,110 per year — or $8,176 per month.
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Construction Manager
$104,900
national median/year
$8,742/mo • $50/hr
VS
Pilot
$203,010
national median/year
$16,918/mo • $98/hr
Annual salary gap
$98,110
Pilots earn 94% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,112,106.
Best states for Pilots
vs Construction Managers
California+$103,110
Illinois+$101,110
Virginia+$101,110
Alaska+$99,110
Connecticut+$99,110
Best states for Construction Managers
vs Pilots
Arkansas+$-73,110
North Dakota+$-73,110
Mississippi+$-75,110
New Mexico+$-75,110
South Dakota+$-75,110
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Pilots earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Construction Managers is $104,900 versus $203,010 for Pilots — a difference of $98,110 per year or $8,176 per month.
The national median salary gap between Construction Managers and Pilots is $98,110 per year. Pilots earn 94% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,112,106.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Construction Managers the highest median salary at $134,900 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. Construction Managers 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, Construction Managers earn approximately $50 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.
