Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary
The median pay for a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Washington is $229,900/year, per BLS data. The range runs from $141K at the entry level to $530K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $225,370 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,830/month, or 12.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $230K get you in Washington?
About airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
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What this looks like in Washington
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pay in Washington tracks closely to the national median, $230K locally vs. $232K nationwide, a 1% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,830/month, 13% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (10th percentile) start around $141K. Mid-career wages sit at $230K. Top earners bring in $530K or more, a $389K spread from bottom to top.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary by metro in Washington
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $230K | +0% | 3,340 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley | $219K | -5% | 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 Washington numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineer afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
Yes — at the median salary of $230K, rent takes 13% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/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 Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers typically earn — is $141K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $8,447/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineer a high-paying job in Washington?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $230K locally vs. $232K nationally, a 1% difference.
How does Washington compare to the national average for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers?
Washington pays $230K median vs. the U.S. average of $232K — that’s -1%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $225K — below the national median.
How much do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in Washington?
The median is $229,900 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $140,780, and experienced airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers can clear $529,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $230K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $14,129/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 13% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary is worth about $225,370 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.