National salary comparison — BLS OES 2024-2025 data
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UX Designers earn a national median of $98,000/year vs Pilots at $203,010/year. Pilots earn 107% more nationally. The gap is $105,010 per year — or $8,751 per month.
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UX Designer
$98,000
national median/year
$8,167/mo • $47/hr
VS
Pilot
$203,010
national median/year
$16,918/mo • $98/hr
Annual salary gap
$105,010
Pilots earn 107% more per year nationally. Over 30 years at 7% investment return that gap compounds to approximately $1,190,319.
Best states for Pilots
vs UX Designers
Alaska+$132,010
Hawaii+$130,010
Illinois+$112,010
Minnesota+$112,010
New Jersey+$112,010
Best states for UX Designers
vs Pilots
Arkansas+$-84,010
Mississippi+$-86,010
West Virginia+$-86,010
Alabama+$-88,010
Idaho+$-88,010
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Pilots earn more nationally. The median annual salary for UX Designers is $98,000 versus $203,010 for Pilots — a difference of $105,010 per year or $8,751 per month.
The national median salary gap between UX Designers and Pilots is $105,010 per year. Pilots earn 107% more. Over a 30-year career this difference, if invested at 7% annual return, compounds to approximately $1,190,319.
Based on BLS OES 2024-2025 data, California pays UX Designers the highest median salary at $136,000 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. Web and Digital Interface Designers 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, UX Designers earn approximately $47 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.
