Accountant vs Airline Pilot Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Airline Pilot
$151,018/yr median(+$71,306 · 89.5% more)
Accountant
Median$79,712
Mean$87,756
10th %ile$52,794
25th %ile$64,187
75th %ile$101,940
90th %ile$130,795
Employed1.4M+
Higher pay
Airline Pilot
Median$151,018
Mean$174,119
10th %ile$84,298
25th %ile$108,165
75th %ile$165,403
90th %ile$172,778
Employed41K+
Salary Distribution Comparison
Accountant
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $52,794 |
| 25th percentile | $64,187 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $79,712 |
| 75th percentile | $101,940 |
| 90th percentile | $130,795 |
Airline Pilot
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $84,298 |
| 25th percentile | $108,165 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $151,018 |
| 75th percentile | $165,403 |
| 90th percentile | $172,778 |
Top Paying States
Accountant
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $103,030 |
| 2 | New York | $101,780 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $101,340 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $96,580 |
| 5 | California | $96,360 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Accountant or Airline Pilot?
- Airline Pilot pays more with a median salary of $151,018/year, which is 89.5% more than Accountant at $79,712/year.
- What is the salary difference between Accountant and Airline Pilot?
- The median salary difference is $71,306/year (89.5%).