Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary by state
What Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss do
Typical education: Bachelor's Degree
Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.
Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.
Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.
Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists.
Top skills:Operation and ControlOperations MonitoringMonitoringCritical ThinkingActive ListeningJudgment and Decision Making
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay by experience level
Entry level$110,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$188,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$240,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$398,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$480,000
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+3.9%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
11,700
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary by industry
Air Transportation
91,010 workers
$307,000
Scheduled Air Transportation
90,840 workers
$307,500
Couriers and Messengers
5,730 workers
$295,500
Couriers and Express Delivery Services
5,730 workers
$295,500
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
2,730 workers
$148,000
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
2,720 workers
$148,000
Support Activities for Transportation
2,570 workers
$242,500
Support Activities for Air Transportation
2,570 workers
$242,500
Management of Companies and Enterprises
600 workers
$202,000
Management of Companies and Enterprises
600 workers
$202,000
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
How this role compares
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pays 333% above the average across 53 roles in the Transportation and Material Moving job family (family average $69,000).
Similar-paying roles in Transportation and Material Moving
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers make?
The average base salary for a Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in the United States is $299,000 per year, or about $143.75 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $188,500 and $398,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Transportation and Material Moving roles?
The Transportation and Material Moving job family averages $69,000 across 53 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
