Private Aviation · Senior

Aircraft Acquisitions Specialist Salary

Compensation benchmarks from 255 verified sources including industry surveys, published reports, and market intelligence.

National Compensation Range

P25

$80,000

25th percentile

P50

$115,000

Median

P75

$170,000

75th percentile

CANDIDATE MARKET

Tight

Scarcity: 6.5/10

EST. CANDIDATE POOL

25-60

Active candidates globally

DEMAND TREND

Stable

8% year-over-year

RETENTION

4 yr avg tenure

15% annual turnover

Aircraft Acquisitions Specialist Salary by City

New York City, NY$160,000
San Francisco, CA$150,000
Palm Beach, FL$150,000
Boston, MA$145,000
Los Angeles, CA$140,000

Median (P50) adjusted for metro cost of labor.

Market Trends

Growing with pre-owned market activity; market intelligence and valuation expertise valued

Also Known As

Aircraft Acquisition Manager, Aviation Acquisitions Advisor, Aircraft Transaction Specialist, Aircraft Buyer / Sales Agent

What Does an Aircraft Acquisitions Specialist Do?

The Aircraft Acquisitions Specialist operates in private aviation operations, managing aircraft, flight crews, and aviation logistics for principals, charter operators, or fractional ownership programs. Professionals in this role typically bring 5 to 12 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Senior level, this position draws from a tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 25-60 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.

What Drives Aircraft Acquisitions Specialist Compensation?

The median (P50) compensation for an Aircraft Acquisitions Specialist is $115,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $80,000 to $170,000. The 78% spread between P25 and P75 reflects significant pay variation driven by aircraft type and fleet size, flight hours, type ratings held, international operating experience, Part 91 vs. Part 135 operations, and the principal's travel frequency. Demand for this role is trending upward with 0.08% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.

Aircraft Acquisitions Specialist Career Path

Professionals who move into Aircraft Acquisitions Specialist roles most commonly come from commercial aviation, military flight operations, or corporate flight departments. From this position, the typical trajectory leads toward chief pilot positions, director of aviation, aviation management company leadership, or fleet management for multi-aircraft operations. The average tenure in this role is approximately 4 years, with an annual turnover rate of 15%.

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