SOC 532011

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, national, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots. Excludes "Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians" (17-3024).

National Median

$226,600

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$226,600

Entry Level (10th pct)

$98,560

Experienced (90th pct)

N/A

Total Employed

99,300

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience LevelEstimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience$98,560 - $154,360
Mid Career2-8 years experience$154,360 - N/A
Senior / Expert8+ years experienceN/A - N/A

Highest Paying Locations for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan AreaMedian SalaryEmployed
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL$229,9302,080
Anchorage, AK$226,4901,540
Alaska$226,4901,620
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL$226,130200
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA$222,70050
Florida$220,3506,640
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC$219,280N/A
Texas$214,67010,050
Oregon$214,520740
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$214,3904,950
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$211,8605,540
Colorado$211,8605,840
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT$211,48060
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$205,650180
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$198,8001,990
Arizona$198,8002,070
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$195,73070
Colorado Springs, CO$192,850190
Connecticut$189,630N/A
Minnesota$184,560N/A
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI$184,560N/A
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV$180,6001,690
Nevada$180,6001,710
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$172,7103,230
Pennsylvania$172,7104,030
Indiana$171,050N/A
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN$171,050N/A
Arkansas$165,980340
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL$162,57060
Richmond, VA$160,27050
South Carolina$158,290160
Maine$158,19040
Huntsville, AL$157,54030
North Carolina$154,3604,310
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC$154,3604,110
Wichita, KS$149,74040
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN$149,740100
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA$148,24030
Oklahoma City, OK$145,45090
Albuquerque, NM$141,19030
Kansas$136,51070
Alabama$134,430340
Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area$134,430200
New Mexico$134,11070
Salt Lake City-Murray, UT$133,2301,710
Utah$133,2301,780
Iowa$130,980100
Oklahoma$130,620190
Tennessee$129,620190
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC$129,31080

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?
The national median annual salary for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is $226,600, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.
Where do Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss earn the most?
The highest-paying metro area for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss is Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL, with a median salary of $229,930.
How much can an experienced Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers make?
Top-earning Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss (90th percentile) make N/A or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.