National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Pilots earn a national median of $203,010/year vs Human Resources Managers at $136,350/year. Pilots earn 33% more nationally. The gap is $66,660 per year — or $5,555 per month.
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Pilot
$203,010
national median/year
$16,918/mo • $98/hr
VS
Human Resources Manager
$136,350
national median/year
$11,363/mo • $66/hr
Annual salary gap
$66,660
Pilots earn 33% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $755,611.
Best states for Human Resources Managers
vs Pilots
New Mexico+$-53,660
Alabama+$-55,660
Arkansas+$-55,660
Idaho+$-55,660
Nebraska+$-55,660
Best states for Pilots
vs Human Resources Managers
Alaska+$99,660
Hawaii+$89,660
Florida+$71,660
Illinois+$71,660
Georgia+$69,660
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Pilots earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Pilots is $203,010 versus $136,350 for Human Resources Managers — a difference of $66,660 per year or $5,555 per month.
The national median salary gap between Pilots and Human Resources Managers is $66,660 per year. Pilots earn 33% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $755,611.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Pilots the highest median salary at $238,010 per year.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Human Resources Managers the highest median salary at $172,350 per year.
Salary is one factor — Pilots earn more nationally. But career choice involves job satisfaction, work-life balance, education requirements, and job growth. Airline and Commercial Pilots and Human Resources Managers 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, Pilots earn approximately $98 per hour nationally and Human Resources Managers earn approximately $66 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.
