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Salary comparison

Aerospace Engineers vs. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers: Who Earns More?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss out-earn Aerospace Engineerss by $92K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Aerospace Engineerss land at $134,830 and Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss at $226,600. The education gap is real: aerospace engineer programs typically require bachelor's degree, while airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineer programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Aerospace Engineerss is District of Columbia ($175,350); for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss it's Kentucky ($413,070).

Aerospace Engineers
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Median salary
$134,830
$226,600
Hourly rate
$64.82/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$85,350
$98,560
Senior level (90th %)
$205,850
$0
Education required
Bachelor's degree
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
68,440
99,300
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Engineering
Transportation
Top-paying state
District of Columbia
Kentucky

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Aerospace Engineers median pay.

State
Aerospace Engineers
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Washington
$158,600
$382,350
California
$143,860
$321,460
Georgia
$142,910
$357,390
Arizona
$135,620
$198,800
Ohio
$134,230
$277,580
Virginia
$132,160
$279,820
Florida
$127,680
$220,350
Texas
$126,470
$214,670
New York
$125,270
$290,170
Illinois
$122,540
$296,570
Connecticut
$119,060
$189,630
Kentucky
$117,660
$413,070
Michigan
$115,540
$307,070
Oregon
$112,460
$214,520
Alaska
$100,610
$226,490

Source: BLS OEWS May 2024. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Aerospace Engineerss or Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss earn more nationally. The median is $134,830 for Aerospace Engineerss versus $226,600 for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss, a difference of $92K. Per BLS OEWS May 2024.

Which has better job growth, Aerospace Engineers or Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Aerospace Engineers or Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

Aerospace Engineers typically requires bachelor's degree. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Aerospace Engineerss get paid the most?

District of Columbia is the top-paying state for Aerospace Engineerss at $175,350/year, per BLS OEWS May 2024. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Aerospace Engineers vs. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Aerospace Engineerss earn $158,600 vs. $382,350 for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Aerospace Engineers salary breakdownView →Full Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Aerospace Engineerss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss by take-home payExplore →How to become a aerospace engineersGuide →How to become a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineersGuide →