Private Aviation · Senior · 8 to 15 years typical
Aircraft Transaction Manager Salary
Annual base compensation, national and by market, from 258 named sources. Every figure below says where it came from.
| Market | Multiplier | P25 | P50 | P75 | P90 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York City, NY | 1.40× | $190,000 | $245,000 | $315,000 | $400,000 |
| San Francisco, CA | 1.30× | $175,000 | $230,000 | $295,000 | $370,000 |
| Boston, MA | 1.25× | $170,000 | $220,000 | $280,000 | $355,000 |
| Palm Beach, FL | 1.25× | $170,000 | $220,000 | $280,000 | $355,000 |
| Miami, FL | 1.23× | $165,000 | $215,000 | $275,000 | $350,000 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 1.20× | $160,000 | $210,000 | $270,000 | $340,000 |
| Washington, DC | 1.20× | $160,000 | $210,000 | $270,000 | $340,000 |
| Seattle, WA | 1.15× | $155,000 | $200,000 | $260,000 | $330,000 |
| Chicago, IL | 1.05× | $140,000 | $185,000 | $235,000 | $300,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 1.00× | $135,000 | $175,000 | $225,000 | $285,000 |
Time to fill 15 weeks for comparable searches, estimated from rouka's benchmark set.
Pre-owned business jet transactions up 9.8% YoY in 2025 (Global Jet Capital). AMSTAT reports resale activity 10% above 10-year average. 100% bonus depreciation returned via One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Honeywell forecasts 8,500 new jet deliveries valued at $283B over next decade. Family offices tripled in past 5 years.
What does an Aircraft Transaction Manager do?
The Aircraft Transaction Manager 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 8 to 15 years of relevant experience. Classified at the Senior level, this position draws from a very tight candidate market with an estimated pool of 400-700 qualified professionals, making targeted sourcing and competitive compensation critical for successful placements.
What drives Aircraft Transaction Manager compensation?
The median (P50) compensation for an Aircraft Transaction Manager is $175,000, with the 25th to 75th percentile range spanning $135,000 to $225,000. The 51% 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 10% year-over-year growth, which is putting upward pressure on compensation at all levels.
Aircraft Transaction Manager career path
Professionals who move into Aircraft Transaction Manager 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 6.5 years, with an annual turnover rate of 12%.
Hiring an Aircraft Transaction Manager?
A search playbook for this seat: compensation positioning against the band above, the sourcing map, and the interview framework.