Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $106,710 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $232,140 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $288,650 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $463,830 | Data unavailable |
BLS publishes only annual wages for this occupation because workers are typically paid on an annual basis rather than hourly.
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 40 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $136,990 | $108,890 | $176,620 | 360 | 0.26 |
| Alaska | $232,140 | $59,130 | $369,150 | 1,350 | 6.21 |
| Arizona | $227,870 | $96,380 | $344,080 | 2,200 | 1.02 |
| Arkansas | $168,970 | $124,990 | $170,960 | 250 | 0.29 |
| California | $353,900 | $179,270 | $427,660 | 10,670 | 0.88 |
| Colorado | $307,490 | $189,150 | $377,860 | 5,830 | 3.05 |
| Connecticut | $199,870 | $94,130 | $530,080 | 80 | 0.07 |
| Florida | $225,020 | $121,240 | $356,680 | 7,760 | 1.17 |
| Georgia | $618,090 | $187,570 | $642,610 | 8,770 | 2.69 |
| Idaho | $507,640 | $120,740 | $507,910 | 330 | 0.57 |
| Illinois | $293,490 | $166,620 | $421,610 | 6,460 | 1.59 |
| Indiana | $171,260 | $83,680 | $338,390 | ||
| Iowa | $131,730 | $64,100 | $201,080 | 100 | 0.1 |
| Kansas | $143,580 | $85,860 | $205,580 | 80 | 0.08 |
| Kentucky | $350,950 | $182,780 | $407,760 | 6,260 | 4.7 |
| Louisiana | $120,740 | $74,700 | $251,190 | 150 | 0.11 |
| Maine | $147,930 | $96,630 | $354,100 | 40 | 0.09 |
| Massachusetts | Data unavailable | 2,240 | 0.93 | ||
| Michigan | $428,570 | $181,880 | $428,570 | ||
| Minnesota | $211,470 | $128,070 | $353,410 | 2,960 | 1.51 |
| Mississippi | $143,580 | $112,420 | $177,110 | 360 | 0.46 |
| Missouri | $97,680 | $60,920 | $172,330 | 120 | 0.06 |
| Nebraska | $131,650 | $59,400 | $233,970 | 60 | 0.09 |
| Nevada | $192,460 | $90,890 | $293,240 | 2,160 | 2.09 |
| New Hampshire | $99,280 | $74,130 | $321,250 | 50 | 0.1 |
| New Mexico | $136,990 | $117,080 | $172,330 | 50 | 0.08 |
| New York | $255,240 | $101,390 | $475,690 | 6,900 | 1.07 |
| North Carolina | $151,540 | $97,700 | $206,700 | 2,240 | 0.68 |
| Ohio | $204,170 | $100,300 | $406,110 | 1,550 | 0.42 |
| Oklahoma | $133,680 | $119,230 | $184,790 | 180 | 0.16 |
| Oregon | $173,190 | $100,260 | $424,850 | 750 | 0.57 |
| Pennsylvania | $164,990 | $88,090 | $369,300 | 2,270 | 0.56 |
| Puerto Rico | $167,050 | $49,400 | $503,570 | 260 | 0.42 |
| Rhode Island | $164,880 | $93,300 | $286,150 | 40 | 0.13 |
| South Carolina | $143,580 | $97,070 | $227,550 | 110 | 0.07 |
| Tennessee | $143,580 | $109,760 | $172,390 | 110 | 0.05 |
| Texas | $215,150 | $92,370 | $456,570 | 10,930 | 1.17 |
| Utah | $174,590 | $108,270 | $433,330 | 1,880 | 1.62 |
| Washington | $229,900 | $140,780 | $529,820 | 3,450 | 1.46 |
| Wyoming | Data unavailable | 80 | 0.44 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 11,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew CIP 49.0102
- Flight Instructor CIP 49.0108
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
- Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
- Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.
Technology skills
- R (in demand)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- AeroPlanner
- AirSmith FlightPrompt
- Airline Pilots Daily Aviation Log PPC
- CoPilot Flight Planning & E6B
- Document Object Model DOM Scripting
- Electronic aircraft information databases
- IFT-Pro
- MJICCS PilotLog
- Navzilla
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Time Management, Coordination, Complex Problem Solving.
Common job titles: Airbus Captain, Airline Captain, Airline Pilot, Captain, Check Airman, Co-Pilot, Commercial Airline Pilot, First Officer (FO), Line Pilot, Pilot.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make?
The national median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers was $232,140 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $106,710 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $463,830. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with less than 5 years of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers to change +8.3% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 11,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Georgia ($618,090), Idaho ($507,640), Michigan ($428,570). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.