Airline Pilot vs Accountant Salary (2026)
Side-by-side salary comparison based on BLS OES data. Updated 2026.
Higher paying occupation
Airline Pilot
$214,428/yr median(+$131,831 · 159.6% more)
Higher pay
Airline Pilot
Median$214,428
Mean$221,734
10th %ile$111,059
25th %ile$145,757
75th %ile$288,442
90th %ile$335,372
Employed87K+
Accountant
Median$82,597
Mean$90,112
10th %ile$55,126
25th %ile$66,613
75th %ile$106,014
90th %ile$134,991
Employed1.4M+
Salary Distribution Comparison
Airline Pilot
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $111,059 |
| 25th percentile | $145,757 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $214,428 |
| 75th percentile | $288,442 |
| 90th percentile | $335,372 |
Accountant
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $55,126 |
| 25th percentile | $66,613 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $82,597 |
| 75th percentile | $106,014 |
| 90th percentile | $134,991 |
Top Paying States
Airline Pilot
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | $618,090 |
| 2 | Idaho | $507,640 |
| 3 | Michigan | $428,570 |
| 4 | California | $353,900 |
| 5 | Kentucky | $350,950 |
Accountant
| # | State | Median |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $111,530 |
| 2 | New York | $102,640 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $100,830 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $99,460 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $97,550 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which pays more, Airline Pilot or Accountant?
- Airline Pilot pays more with a median salary of $214,428/year, which is 159.6% more than Accountant at $82,597/year.
- What is the salary difference between Airline Pilot and Accountant?
- The median salary difference is $131,831/year (159.6%).