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Salary comparison

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers vs. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers: Who Earns More?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers out-earn Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers by $167K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers land at $65,380 and Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers at $232,140. The education gap is real: aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assembler programs typically require high school diploma or equivalent, while airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineer programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers is Washington ($110,470); for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers it's Georgia ($618,090).

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Median salary
$65,380
$232,140
Hourly rate
$31.43/hr
$null/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$47,310
$106,710
Senior level (90th %)
$107,500
$463,830
Education required
High school diploma or equivalent
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
34,020
103,560
Job growth (10-year)
-14.5%
3.9%
Category
Production & Manufacturing
Transportation
Top-paying state
Washington
Georgia

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers median pay.

State
Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Washington
$110,470
$229,900
Pennsylvania
$81,680
$164,990
Connecticut
$78,630
$199,870
Texas
$76,640
$215,150
Arizona
$73,930
$227,870
Georgia
$72,550
$618,090
Colorado
$70,870
$307,490
Florida
$64,580
$225,020
California
$63,640
$353,900
Oregon
$58,050
$173,190
Utah
$51,130
$174,590
Idaho
$50,100
$507,640
New York
$49,620
$255,240
Michigan
$47,230
$428,570
Arkansas
$46,290
$168,970

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

Common questions

Who earns more, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers or Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers earn more nationally. The median is $65,380 for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers versus $232,140 for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers, a difference of $167K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers 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 -14.5% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers or Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers typically requires high school diploma or equivalent. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers get paid the most?

Washington is the top-paying state for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers at $110,470/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers vs. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Washington, Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers earn $110,470 vs. $229,900 for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers salary breakdownView →Full Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary breakdownView →Best cities for Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers by take-home payExplore →How to become a aircraft structure, surfaces, rigging, and systems assemblersGuide →How to become a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineersGuide →