Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in U.S.
The median pay for a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in U.S. is $226,600/year, per BLS data. Entry-level workers start around $99K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.)
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $227K get you in U.S.?
About airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, U.S.
Entry-level airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (10th percentile) start around $99K. Mid-career wages sit at $227K.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 U.S. numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in U.S.?
The median is $226,600 a year. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $98,560. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $227K enough to live in U.S.?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $13,949/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,412/month, which eats 10.1% 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 U.S.?
U.S. has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary is worth about $226,600 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.