National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Marketing Managers earn a national median of $156,580/year vs Pilots at $203,010/year. Pilots earn 30% more nationally. The gap is $46,430 per year — or $3,869 per month.
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Marketing Manager
$156,580
national median/year
$13,048/mo • $75/hr
VS
Pilot
$203,010
national median/year
$16,918/mo • $98/hr
Annual salary gap
$46,430
Pilots earn 30% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $526,298.
Best states for Pilots
vs Marketing Managers
Alaska+$99,690
Hawaii+$89,690
Indiana+$65,690
Nevada+$65,690
Ohio+$65,690
Best states for Marketing Managers
vs Pilots
New York+$-39,690
Massachusetts+$-43,690
California+$-49,690
Washington+$-49,690
Alabama+$-53,690
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Pilots earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Marketing Managers is $156,580 versus $203,010 for Pilots — a difference of $46,430 per year or $3,869 per month.
The national median salary gap between Marketing Managers and Pilots is $46,430 per year. Pilots earn 30% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $526,298.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Marketing Managers the highest median salary at $188,320 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. Marketing 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, Marketing Managers earn approximately $75 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.
