Airfield Operations Specialists vs Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Pay gap first: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers leads Airfield Operations Specialists 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 Airfield Operations Specialists
- 2. Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors · near Airfield Operations Specialists
- 3. Aircraft Service Attendants · near Airfield Operations Specialists
- 4. Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians · near Airfield Operations Specialists
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.
- Inspect airfield conditions to ensure compliance with federal regulatory requirements. · Airfield Operations Specialists (SOC 53-2022)
- Implement airfield safety procedures to ensure a safe operating environment for personnel and aircraft operation. · Airfield Operations Specialists (SOC 53-2022)
- Conduct inspections of the airport property and perimeter to maintain controlled access to airfields. · Airfield Operations Specialists (SOC 53-2022)
- Assist in responding to aircraft and medical emergencies. · Airfield Operations Specialists (SOC 53-2022)
- 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)
Airfield Operations Specialists
$56,850
median annual salary
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
$232,140
median annual salary
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers earns $175,290 more per year (76% higher)
The distinctive signal in this pair is the national median gap: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (SOC 53-2011) sits $175,290/year (76%) above Airfield Operations Specialists. 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: Airfield Operations Specialists +4.2% vs Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers +3.9% through 2034 · openings 1,600 vs 11,700/yr.
Pay stack: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers vs Airfield Operations Specialists
| Signal | Airfield Operations Specialists | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers median annual vs peer | $56,850 | $232,140 |
| 90th-percentile annual · Airline band | $102,120 | $463,830 |
| 10th-percentile annual · Airfield band | $35,870 | $106,710 |
| OEWS median hourly · Airfield Operations S… | $27.33/hr | N/A |
| OEWS mean annual · Airline Pilots | $63,610 | $288,650 |
| OEWS total employment · 53-0000 | 15,190 | 103,560 |
| Job growth 2024-2034 · Airfield Operations Specialists | +4.2% | +3.9% |
| Annual openings · Airline Pilots side | 1,600 | 11,700 |
| BLS typical education · Airfield Operations S… | 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 Airfield Operations Specialists and Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers.
| State | Airfield Operations Specialists | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $66,790 | $618,090 | $-551,300 |
| Idaho | $62,510 | $507,640 | $-445,130 |
| Michigan | $61,780 | $428,570 | $-366,790 |
| California | $62,600 | $353,900 | $-291,300 |
| Colorado | $77,500 | $307,490 | $-229,990 |
| Kentucky | $123,290 | $350,950 | $-227,660 |
| New York | $42,000 | $255,240 | $-213,240 |
| Florida | $57,650 | $225,020 | $-167,370 |
| Alaska | $71,510 | $232,140 | $-160,630 |
| Texas | $60,910 | $215,150 | $-154,240 |
| Arizona | $77,570 | $227,870 | $-150,300 |
| Ohio | $57,140 | $204,170 | $-147,030 |
| Washington | $84,050 | $229,900 | $-145,850 |
| Indiana | $37,730 | $171,260 | $-133,530 |
| Nevada | $61,350 | $192,460 | $-131,110 |
| Puerto Rico | $50,180 | $167,050 | $-116,870 |
| Utah | $59,780 | $174,590 | $-114,810 |
| South Carolina | $33,590 | $143,580 | $-109,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $55,660 | $164,990 | $-109,330 |
| North Carolina | $45,820 | $151,540 | $-105,720 |
Showing top 20 of 28 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, Airfield Operations Specialists 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.