National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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Police Officers earn a national median of $72,280/year vs Pilots at $203,010/year. Pilots earn 181% more nationally. The gap is $130,730 per year — or $10,894 per month.
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Police Officer
$72,280
national median/year
$6,023/mo • $35/hr
VS
Pilot
$203,010
national median/year
$16,918/mo • $98/hr
Annual salary gap
$130,730
Pilots earn 181% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,481,863.
Best states for Pilots
vs Police Officers
Virginia+$153,690
New York+$143,690
Washington+$143,690
Georgia+$139,690
Maryland+$139,690
Best states for Police Officers
vs Pilots
North Dakota+$-99,690
Wyoming+$-99,690
Arkansas+$-101,690
Mississippi+$-101,690
West Virginia+$-101,690
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Pilots earn more nationally. The median annual salary for Police Officers is $72,280 versus $203,010 for Pilots — a difference of $130,730 per year or $10,894 per month.
The national median salary gap between Police Officers and Pilots is $130,730 per year. Pilots earn 181% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,481,863.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays Police Officers the highest median salary at $108,320 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. Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers 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, Police Officers earn approximately $35 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.
