Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in New Orleans-Metairie, LA
The median pay for a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in New Orleans-Metairie, LA is $115,480/year, per BLS data. Entry-level positions start around $95K. BLS does not publish top-end wages for this occupation because they exceed the reportable ceiling. Note: the mean (average) wage is $200K, significantly higher than the median. This typically reflects a mix of employment settings including academic and private practice positions. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $124,708 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,331/month, or 18.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $115K get you in New Orleans-Metairie?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by New Orleans-Metairie’s Regional Price Parity (92.6). 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.
About airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Orleans-Metairie, LA
Entry-level airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (10th percentile) start around $95K. Mid-career wages sit at $115K. Top earners bring in N/A or more.
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 New Orleans-Metairie numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
How much do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in New Orleans-Metairie, LA?
The median is $115,480 a year, that works out to about $0 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $94,720, and experienced airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers can clear N/A. The mean (average) is $199,690, reflecting that some workers earn substantially more. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $115K enough to live in New Orleans-Metairie?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,108/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,331/month, which eats 18.7% 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 New Orleans-Metairie?
New Orleans-Metairie has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $124,708 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.