Side-by-side distribution
Mechanic
$32.84/hr
per hour · USD
- Disclosing
- 59.1%
- Live roles
- 6,138
Pilot
$115,725
median · per year, annualized USD
- Disclosing
- 30.2%
- Live roles
- 404
Highest-paying jobs
Heavy Duty Mechanic - Customer Equipment
Heavy Duty Mechanic
Auto Body Technician
Auto Body Technician
Auto Body Technician
Auto Body Technician
Auto Body Technician
Auto Body Technician
Auto Body Technician
Auto Body Technician
Highest-paying jobs
Assistant Chief Pilot
Sr Staff Test Pilot
Sr Staff Test Pilot
F/A-18 Senior Instructor Pilot
Director, Pilot
Staff Pilot Test
Staff Pilot Test
Chief Pilot
Military Derivatives Test Pilot (Experienced or Senior)
Staff Test Pilot
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
|
The Boyd Group
|
$61,360 | 437 |
Caliber Collision
|
$52,000 | 380 |
| SA Safelite | $44,200 | 327 |
| CO Cox | $76,409 | 250 |
Amentum
|
$91,759 | 190 |
|
United Rentals
|
$74,412 | 93 |
Dent Wizard
|
$100,000 | 78 |
Carvana
|
$48,880 | 75 |
Top companies hiring
| Company | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
Intermountain Health
|
$123,802 | 15 |
|
Northrop Grumman
|
$216,300 | 12 |
|
Amentum
|
$116,168 | 12 |
PHI Health
|
$100,000 | 5 |
CACI
|
$116,650 | 4 |
Leidos
|
$112,694 | 4 |
Beacon AI
|
$199,000 | 3 |
KBR
|
$195,500 | 3 |
Mechanic salary by location
| Location | Median | Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Amsterdam | $112,500 | 3 |
| San Francisco | $94,640 | 9 |
| Toronto | $90,740 | 8 |
| Boston | $84,001 | 21 |
| Los Angeles | $81,702 | 7 |
| Berlin | $80,000 | 3 |
| Dublin | $78,208 | 3 |
| Austin | $76,409 | 15 |
| Chicago | $70,148 | 32 |
| New York | $67,600 | 41 |
Mechanic vs Pilot: which pays more?
The median for Mechanic is $32.84/hr per year (typically $27.50/hr–$38.70/hr), versus $115,725 for Pilot ($82,078–$155,325). That puts Pilot about 69% ahead at the median.
Both figures are computed live from active listings on JobsRadar and normalized to annualized USD, so Mechanic and Pilot are compared on equal terms regardless of the currency each role was originally posted in. Only roles that publish a salary range feed the medians; numbers refresh every few hours as new roles post and older ones close, so this comparison reflects the market right now rather than a fixed survey. Use it as a directional benchmark when weighing one path against the other.