Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand: Who Earns More?
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss out-earn Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands by $192K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss land at $232,140 and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands at $40,240. The education gap is real: airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineer programs typically require no formal educational credential, while laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss is Georgia ($618,090); for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands it's Minnesota ($46,280).
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 Engineerss or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands?
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss earn more nationally. The median is $232,140 for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss versus $40,240 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands, a difference of $192K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.
Which has better job growth, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?
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, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers typically requires no formal educational credential. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.
Where do Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss get paid the most?
Georgia is the top-paying state for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss 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. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay differ by state?
The gap varies significantly by state. In California, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss earn $353,900 vs. $44,710 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.