Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
The median pay for a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA is $222,700/year, per BLS data. Entry-level workers start around $56K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.) Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.7), which stretches that salary to about $242,857 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,318/month, or 10% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $223K get you in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
About airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Entry-level airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (10th percentile) start around $56K. Mid-career wages sit at $223K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Track airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Des Moines-West Des Moines numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median is $222,700 a year. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $55,850. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $223K enough to live in Des Moines-West Des Moines?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $12,713/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,318/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 10.4% 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines?
Des Moines-West Des Moines has a Regional Price Parity of 91.7 (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 $242,857 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.