Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary
The median pay for a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Texas is $215,150/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $92K at the entry level to $457K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.49), which stretches that salary to about $235,162 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,415/month, or 10.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Texas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $215K get you in Texas?
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What this looks like in Texas
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pay in Texas tracks closely to the national median, $215K locally vs. $232K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,415/month, 10.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.49 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Texas
Entry-level airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (10th percentile) start around $92K. Mid-career wages sit at $215K. Top earners bring in $457K or more, a $364K spread from bottom to top.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary by metro in Texas
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $308K | +43% | 4,160 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $213K | -1% | 5,980 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos | $211K | -2% | 150 |
| Wichita Falls | $112K | -48% | 80 |
Compare to other states
Track airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Texas numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Texas?
Yes — at the median salary of $215K, rent takes 10.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,415/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 Texas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers typically earn — is $92K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,542/month. At HUD’s $1,415/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineer a high-paying job in Texas?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $215K locally vs. $232K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Texas compare to the national average for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers?
Texas pays $215K median vs. the U.S. average of $232K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $235K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in Texas?
The median is $215,150 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $92,370, and experienced airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers can clear $456,570. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $215K enough to live in Texas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $13,322/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,415/month, which eats 10.6% 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 Texas?
Texas has a Regional Price Parity of 91.49 (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 $235,162 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.