Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary
The median pay for a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Arizona is $227,870/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $96K at the entry level to $344K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $236,355 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 10.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $228K get you in Arizona?
About airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Arizona
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pay in Arizona tracks closely to the national median, $228K locally vs. $232K nationwide, a 2% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,437/month, 10.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (10th percentile) start around $96K. Mid-career wages sit at $228K. Top earners bring in $344K or more, a $248K spread from bottom to top.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary by metro in Arizona
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $228K | +0% | 2,100 |
| Tucson | $206K | -10% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $228K, rent takes 10.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers typically earn — is $96K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,783/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 25% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineer a high-paying job in Arizona?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $228K locally vs. $232K nationally, a 2% difference.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers?
Arizona pays $228K median vs. the U.S. average of $232K — that’s -2%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $236K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in Arizona?
The median is $227,870 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $96,380, and experienced airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers can clear $344,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $228K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $13,543/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 10.6% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary is worth about $236,355 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.