Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary
The median pay for a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Michigan is $428,570/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $182K at the entry level to $429K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $456,460 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 5.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $429K get you in Michigan?
About airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
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What this looks like in Michigan
Michigan sits well above the national pay line for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers, local pay runs about 85% higher than the U.S. median of $232K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,272/month, 5.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Michigan offers a genuinely strong financial position for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Michigan
Entry-level airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (10th percentile) start around $182K. Mid-career wages sit at $429K. Top earners bring in $429K or more, a $247K spread from bottom to top.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary by metro in Michigan
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $429K | +0% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
Yes — at the median salary of $429K, rent takes 5.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/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 Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers typically earn — is $182K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $10,913/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 12% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineer a high-paying job in Michigan?
Local pay is 85% above the national median — $429K here vs. $232K nationally.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers?
Michigan pays $429K median vs. the U.S. average of $232K — that’s +85%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $456K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in Michigan?
The median is $428,570 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $181,880, and experienced airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers can clear $428,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $429K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $23,073/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 5.5% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $456,460 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.