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

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers out-earn Agricultural Inspectors by $182K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Agricultural Inspectors land at $49,940 and Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers at $232,140. The education gap is real: agricultural inspector programs typically require no formal educational credential, while airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineer programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Agricultural Inspectors is Minnesota ($77,150); for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers it's Georgia ($618,090).

Agricultural Inspectors
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Median salary
$49,940
$232,140
Hourly rate
$24.01/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$37,020
$106,710
Senior level (90th %)
$79,580
$463,830
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
14,410
103,560
Job growth (10-year)
1.5%
3.9%
Category
Farming & Fishing
Transportation
Top-paying state
Minnesota
Georgia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Agricultural Inspectors median pay.

State
Agricultural Inspectors
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Minnesota
$77,150
$211,470
New York
$73,920
$255,240
Ohio
$69,280
$204,170
Michigan
$65,730
$428,570
Washington
$62,880
$229,900
Illinois
$62,000
$293,490
California
$53,620
$353,900
Colorado
$50,430
$307,490
Texas
$49,940
$215,150
Idaho
$48,650
$507,640
Kentucky
$46,640
$350,950
Arizona
$45,700
$227,870
Florida
$43,990
$225,020
Georgia
$41,460
$618,090
Nevada
$39,270
$192,460

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Agricultural Inspectors or Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers earn more nationally. The median is $49,940 for Agricultural Inspectors versus $232,140 for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers, a difference of $182K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

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

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers has the better 10-year outlook at 3.9% projected growth, compared to 1.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

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

Agricultural Inspectors typically requires no formal educational credential. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Agricultural Inspectors get paid the most?

Minnesota is the top-paying state for Agricultural Inspectors at $77,150/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

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

The gap varies significantly by state. In Minnesota, Agricultural Inspectors earn $77,150 vs. $211,470 for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

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