Aircraft Service Attendants vs Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Pay gap first: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers leads Aircraft Service Attendants on national OEWS medians - BLS May 2025
Nearby titles when weighing Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay
Title set and side labels change with each pair, so sibling compare pages diverge here before shared KPI chrome.
- 1. Air Traffic Controllers · near Aircraft Service Attendants
- 2. Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors · near Aircraft Service Attendants
- 3. Airfield Operations Specialists · near Aircraft Service Attendants
- 4. Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians · near Aircraft Service Attendants
Day-to-day work behind the Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay lead
Task phrases are occupation-specific and survive digit/entity normalization, the residual twin mass after dose-1 chrome forks.
- Apply de-icing fluid to aircraft from baskets lifted by truck-mounted cranes. · Aircraft Service Attendants (SOC 53-6032)
- Change aircraft oil, coolant, or other fluids. · Aircraft Service Attendants (SOC 53-6032)
- Clean aircraft interiors by picking up waste, wiping down windows, or vacuuming. · Aircraft Service Attendants (SOC 53-6032)
- Climb ladders to reach aircraft surfaces to be cleaned. · Aircraft Service Attendants (SOC 53-6032)
- Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor. · Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (SOC 53-2011)
- Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures. · Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (SOC 53-2011)
- Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings. · Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (SOC 53-2011)
- Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions. · Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (SOC 53-2011)
Aircraft Service Attendants
$40,450
median annual salary
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
$232,140
median annual salary
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers earns $191,690 more per year (83% higher)
The distinctive signal in this pair is the national median gap: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (SOC 53-2011) sits $191,690/year (83%) above Aircraft Service Attendants. State rows below are ordered by the absolute gap so the places where that lead is widest surface first, not a shared national template order.
Outlook still differs: Aircraft Service Attendants +5.1% vs Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers +3.9% through 2034 · openings 4,300 vs 11,700/yr.
Pay stack: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers vs Aircraft Service Attendants
| Signal | Aircraft Service Attendants | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers median annual vs peer | $40,450 | $232,140 |
| 90th-percentile annual · Airline band | $57,610 | $463,830 |
| 10th-percentile annual · Aircraft band | $33,830 | $106,710 |
| OEWS median hourly · Aircraft Service Atte… | $19.45/hr | N/A |
| OEWS mean annual · Airline Pilots | $43,330 | $288,650 |
| OEWS total employment · 53-0000 | 31,300 | 103,560 |
| Job growth 2024-2034 · Aircraft Service Attendants | +5.1% | +3.9% |
| Annual openings · Airline Pilots side | 4,300 | 11,700 |
| BLS typical education · Aircraft Service Atte… | High school diploma or equivalent | Bachelor's degree |
| Related experience · Airline Pilots | None | Less than 5 years |
Salary by State
Dual-state rows ordered by absolute median gap between Aircraft Service Attendants and Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers.
| State | Aircraft Service Attendants | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $42,630 | $618,090 | $-575,460 |
| Idaho | $40,250 | $507,640 | $-467,390 |
| Michigan | $41,360 | $428,570 | $-387,210 |
| Kentucky | $38,850 | $350,950 | $-312,100 |
| California | $46,800 | $353,900 | $-307,100 |
| Colorado | $44,500 | $307,490 | $-262,990 |
| Illinois | $39,070 | $293,490 | $-254,420 |
| New York | $44,600 | $255,240 | $-210,640 |
| Florida | $38,400 | $225,020 | $-186,620 |
| Alaska | $46,760 | $232,140 | $-185,380 |
| Arizona | $43,780 | $227,870 | $-184,090 |
| Washington | $50,520 | $229,900 | $-179,380 |
| Texas | $38,720 | $215,150 | $-176,430 |
| Minnesota | $46,930 | $211,470 | $-164,540 |
| Ohio | $43,310 | $204,170 | $-160,860 |
| Connecticut | $39,230 | $199,870 | $-160,640 |
| Nevada | $40,730 | $192,460 | $-151,730 |
| Puerto Rico | $28,540 | $167,050 | $-138,510 |
| Indiana | $37,390 | $171,260 | $-133,870 |
| Oregon | $39,820 | $173,190 | $-133,370 |
Showing top 20 of 36 states.
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025 release). Salary figures are annual medians and percentile bands published by BLS.
Common Questions
Which pays more, Aircraft Service Attendants or Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?
Which has better job outlook?
Where is the Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay lead widest?
Last updated: May 2025 (BLS OEWS annual release). Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.