Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers vs. Anesthesiologists: Who Earns More?
Anesthesiologists out-earn Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers by $159K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers land at $232,140 and Anesthesiologists at $391,490. The education gap is real: airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineer programs typically require no formal educational credential, while anesthesiologist programs require doctoral or professional degree. Top-paying state for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is Georgia ($618,090); for Anesthesiologists it's Washington ($499,990).
Pay by state
States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers median pay.
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.
Common questions
Who earns more, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers or Anesthesiologists?
Anesthesiologists earn more nationally. The median is $232,140 for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers versus $391,490 for Anesthesiologists, a difference of $159K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers or Anesthesiologists?
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers has the better 10-year outlook at 3.9% projected growth, compared to 3.2% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.
Which requires more education, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers or Anesthesiologists?
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers typically requires no formal educational credential. Anesthesiologists requires doctoral or professional degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers get paid the most?
Georgia is the top-paying state for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers at $618,090/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.
How does Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers vs. Anesthesiologists pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In Idaho, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers earn $507,640 vs. $449,990 for Anesthesiologists. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.