Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in Columbia, SC
The median pay for a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Columbia, SC is $117,190/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $92K at the entry level to $215K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.66), which stretches that salary to about $125,123 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,276/month, or 17.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $117K get you in Columbia?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Columbia’s Regional Price Parity (93.66). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Columbia, SC
Entry-level airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (10th percentile) start around $92K. Mid-career wages sit at $117K. Top earners bring in $215K or more, a $123K spread from bottom to top.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | $413K | +82% | N/A |
| Washington | $382K | +69% | 3,650 |
| Georgia | $357K | +58% | N/A |
| California | $321K | +42% | 9,890 |
| Michigan | $307K | +36% | 2,650 |
| Illinois | $297K | +31% | 6,440 |
| New York | $290K | +28% | 6,530 |
| Virginia | $280K | +23% | N/A |
| Ohio | $278K | +22% | 1,070 |
| Alaska | $226K | -0% | 1,620 |
| Florida | $220K | -3% | 6,640 |
| Texas | $215K | -5% | 10,050 |
| Oregon | $215K | -5% | 740 |
| Arizona | $199K | -12% | 2,070 |
| Connecticut | $190K | -16% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $185K | -19% | N/A |
| Nevada | $181K | -20% | 1,710 |
| Pennsylvania | $173K | -24% | 4,030 |
| Indiana | $171K | -25% | N/A |
| Arkansas | $166K | -27% | 340 |
| South Carolina | $158K | -30% | 160 |
| Maine | $158K | -30% | 40 |
| North Carolina | $154K | -32% | 4,310 |
| Kansas | $137K | -40% | 70 |
| Alabama | $134K | -41% | 340 |
| New Mexico | $134K | -41% | 70 |
| Utah | $133K | -41% | 1,780 |
| Iowa | $131K | -42% | 100 |
| Oklahoma | $131K | -42% | 190 |
| Tennessee | $130K | -43% | 190 |
| Missouri | $123K | -46% | 70 |
| Nebraska | $114K | -49% | 60 |
| Wisconsin | $103K | -54% | 50 |
| New Hampshire | $97K | -57% | 40 |
| Louisiana | $95K | -58% | 110 |
| Montana | $50K | -78% | 140 |
| Wyoming | $46K | -80% | 80 |
Showing 1–10 of 37 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in Columbia, SC?
The median is $117,190 a year, that works out to about $0 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $91,950, and experienced airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers can clear $214,970. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $117K enough to live in Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,080/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,276/month, which eats 18% 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 Columbia?
Columbia has a Regional Price Parity of 93.66 (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 $125,123 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.