There's such a thing as flight pay, which pilots receive to separate them from other officers of the same rank, starting at $1,500 a year and working up from there. Other incentives exist which add up to increase your yearly take-home. In general, Generals don't fly jets, they just tell lower pilots where they're going, who they're going with, and what they're doing when they get there-not unlike parents.Īnd also just like parents, if you step out of line, they can and will ground you.
Likewise, majors make upwards of $65,000. Captains make almost twice that, between $55,000 and $65,000 roughly, but they obviously have a lot more experience, as befits their rank. Lieutenants going through pilot training only make about $30,000 before whatever housing allowances or other extras are allotted ( source). In the United States military, you earn money based on rank, not occupation. Unfortunately for the younger pilots, that's not exactly how it works.
It seems logical to some people that they would make way more money than pretty much anyone else in the Navy or Air Force.
( Source)įighter pilots are trusted with ridiculously expensive aircraft and risk their lives basically every minute of every day, all while looking super cool in their aviator sunglasses. The amount of stripes and bars reflects how nice a car you drive.