Total compensation for U.S. business aviation professionals rose 8% in 2026, accelerating from 6% growth in 2025 and exceeding the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 3.4% national rate. AirComp Calculator’s analysis shows the sharpest increases in several non-flying and operational roles, while pilots of Gulfstream G700 and G800 aircraft earned about a 20% premium over peers operating other jets in the same class.
Pay growth varied significantly by position. Non-flying aviation managers recorded increases of nearly 20%, followed by senior flight attendants at 11%, maintenance assistants at 10%, chief pilots at 9% and technicians at 7%. Flying directors of aviation, already the highest-paid group, saw growth of about 3.5%.
G700 captains had average base pay of approximately $343,000, with the 90th percentile reaching $435,000. Including bonuses, average total cash compensation was about $395,000, rising to roughly $495,000 at the 90th percentile.
Dallas-based AirComp Calculator combines three industry surveys, including the NBAA Compensation Survey, and adjusts results for local labour markets using BLS data. The underlying surveys collect first-quarter information, which is aged forward using five-year average growth factors for each position.
The analysis comes as flight departments prepare 2027 budgets. AirComp founder Chris Broyhill cautioned that declining survey participation may distort year-on-year comparisons, including one survey that lost 63 participating organisations. He also argued that departments paying around the market median may need additional retention incentives, particularly for crews operating premium long-range aircraft.