Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary
Transportation · OCC code 53-2011 · gross annual wage · BLS OEWS May 2024
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in the US earn a median of $226,600 per year (mean $280,570) as of the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey — that is +357.8% versus the $49,500 median for all US jobs, more than 2.5x the US median wage for all jobs. The middle half earn between $154,360 and $239,200+; the top 10% earn $239,200+ or more. About 99,300 are employed nationally. The highest-paying state is Kentucky ($239,200+). Wages are gross (pre-tax) and vary by employer, experience and location.
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay range (national percentiles)
What airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers earn across the pay distribution, nationally (BLS OEWS, May 2024):
| Pay level | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (lowest-paid 10%) | $98,560 |
| 25th percentile | $154,360 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $226,600 |
| Mean (average) | $280,570 |
| 75th percentile | $239,200+ |
| 90th percentile (highest-paid 10%) | $239,200+ |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
A dash (—) means BLS did not release that figure; a plus (+) means the wage is at or above the BLS top code of $239,200/yr. See what wage percentiles mean or check where your salary ranks.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary by state
Median and mean wage for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in each of the 38 states with published data, highest median first. The national median is $226,600.
| # | State | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kentucky | $239,200+ | $413,070 | — |
| 2 | Washington | $239,200+ | $382,350 | 3,650 |
| 3 | Georgia | $239,200+ | $357,390 | — |
| 4 | California | $239,200+ | $321,460 | 9,890 |
| 5 | Michigan | $239,200+ | $307,070 | 2,650 |
| 6 | Illinois | $239,200+ | $296,570 | 6,440 |
| 7 | New York | $239,200+ | $290,170 | 6,530 |
| 8 | Virginia | $239,200+ | $279,820 | — |
| 9 | Ohio | $239,200+ | $277,580 | 1,070 |
| 10 | Alaska | $226,490 | $222,280 | 1,620 |
| 11 | Florida | $220,350 | $265,890 | 6,640 |
| 12 | Texas | $214,670 | $261,260 | 10,050 |
| 13 | Oregon | $214,520 | $264,300 | 740 |
| 14 | Colorado | $211,860 | $254,770 | 5,840 |
| 15 | Arizona | $198,800 | $209,750 | 2,070 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $189,630 | $250,950 | — |
| 17 | Minnesota | $184,560 | $188,580 | — |
| 18 | Nevada | $180,600 | $191,900 | 1,710 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $172,710 | $207,920 | 4,030 |
| 20 | Indiana | $171,050 | $188,780 | — |
| 21 | Arkansas | $165,980 | $158,600 | 340 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $158,290 | $163,870 | 160 |
| 23 | Maine | $158,190 | $232,070 | 40 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $154,360 | $149,350 | 4,310 |
| 25 | Kansas | $136,510 | $134,580 | 70 |
| 26 | Alabama | $134,430 | $145,930 | 340 |
| 27 | New Mexico | $134,110 | $165,500 | 70 |
| 28 | Utah | $133,230 | $160,530 | 1,780 |
| 29 | Iowa | $130,980 | $158,090 | 100 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $130,620 | $137,120 | 190 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $129,620 | $132,520 | 190 |
| 32 | Missouri | $122,530 | $166,950 | 70 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $114,480 | $144,090 | 60 |
| 34 | Wisconsin | $103,400 | $100,380 | 50 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $96,970 | $126,910 | 40 |
| 36 | Louisiana | $94,720 | $136,170 | 110 |
| 37 | Montana | $49,800 | $60,900 | 140 |
| 38 | Wyoming | $46,070 | $69,510 | 80 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. Data as of OEWS May 2024 (BLS), retrieved June 2026.
Highest median: Kentucky ($239,200+). Lowest: Wyoming ($46,070).
Similar-paying jobs
| Occupation | Median wage | Mean wage | vs US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (this job) | $226,600 | $280,570 | +357.8% |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $236,350 | $262,710 | +377.5% |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $238,380 | $256,830 | +381.6% |
| Dentists, General | $172,790 | $196,100 | +249.1% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $171,200 | $187,990 | +245.9% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $167,740 | $175,710 | +238.9% |
General Internal Medicine Physicians · Family Medicine Physicians · Dentists, General · Computer and Information Systems Managers · Architectural and Engineering Managers
Frequently asked questions
How much do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make?
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers earn a national median of $226,600 per year (mean $280,570) as of the BLS OEWS May 2024 survey. The middle half earn between $154,360 (25th percentile) and $239,200+ (75th percentile); the top 10% earn $239,200+ or more and the bottom 10% earn under $98,560. These are gross, pre-tax wages.
What is the hourly wage for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers?
BLS reports this occupation as an annual wage rather than hourly, so no median hourly figure is published. The median annual wage is $226,600.
Which state pays airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers the most?
Kentucky has the highest median wage for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers at $239,200+, versus a national median of $226,600. State pay reflects local cost of living, demand and industry mix. See the full state table on this page.
How many airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are there in the US?
BLS estimates about 99,300 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are employed in the US (OEWS, May 2024). Among the 124 occupations tracked here, this job ranks #3 of 124 by median pay.
Keep exploring
Sources & accuracy
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 (OCC 53-2011), gross annual wages, U.S. public domain, retrieved June 2026. OEWS figures are survey estimates and reflect pay before tax. Your actual pay depends on employer, experience, certifications, industry and location. This is information, not financial or career advice — see our methodology and disclaimer.
Last updated: 2026-06-20