Airline Pilot.
Dallas.
$160,000
median salary, 1% above the national average
$99,000 to $240,000. Updated for 2026.
The numbers.
Everything you need to negotiate with confidence.
Dallas is 1% more expensive than the national average. For Airline Pilots, that shakes out to a median of $160,000, with the full range spanning $99,000 to $240,000. Airline size, aircraft type rating, and seniority number are the primary pay drivers. Know the range before you walk in.
Salary range
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How Dallas compares
Dallas, TX
$160,000
Cost of living: 1% above average
National Average
$158,000
Dallas is $2,000 above
What you should know
Here is what the Airline Pilot market actually looks like in Dallas. Dallas is a major corporate hub with dozens of Fortune 500 headquarters spanning telecom, finance, defense, and retail. The metro's low cost of living and no state income tax make it a magnet for corporate relocations. Tech salaries in Dallas have risen quickly, particularly in fintech, cybersecurity, and enterprise software. Airline size, aircraft type rating, and seniority number are the primary pay drivers. Captains at major carriers earn roughly double what regional first officers make. International long-haul routes and widebody type ratings command the highest premiums.
Regional first officers start at $55,000 to $98,000. Upgrading to captain at a regional brings $100,000 to $140,000. Transitioning to a major airline as a first officer pays $150,000 to $200,000, with captains earning $238,000 to $400,000 at top seniority. In Dallas, cost of living sits near the national average, so the numbers you see are roughly what you keep.
Base salary is not the full picture. Total compensation includes per diem allowances, profit sharing up to 15 to 20% of base, 401(k) matching, and flight-benefit travel. Major carriers also offer retention bonuses of $50,000 to $100,000. And on the tax side: texas levies no state income tax, giving Dallas workers a meaningful take home pay advantage. Local property taxes are above the national average, typically around 2% of assessed value. When someone quotes you $160,000, ask what the total package looks like. The gap between base and total comp is where real money hides.
On negotiation: Highlight the corporate headquarters density in DFW. Employers here compete fiercely for talent and often match or exceed offers from companies across the metroplex. The range for Airline Pilots in Dallas runs from $99,000 to $240,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.
Top industries in Dallas
Negotiating in Dallas
Highlight the corporate headquarters density in DFW. Employers here compete fiercely for talent and often match or exceed offers from companies across the metroplex.