53 Series · SOC 53-2011
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $232,140
- Median / year
- $463,830
- Top 10% earn
- +3.9%
- Growth '23–'33
- 103,560
- US workers
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers earn a median of $232,140 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $232,140, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $106,710 (10th percentile) to $463,830 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 103,560 US workers. Georgia pays the most ($618,090), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers earn a median of $232,140, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 97% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Transportation and Material Moving, it ranks #1 of 50 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3.9% by 2033.
- $232,140
- Median annual wage
- Top 3%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #1 of 50
- in Transportation and Material Moving
- 4.3×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Georgia at $618,090. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (SOC 53-2011) pays a national median of $232,140 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $106,710 at the 10th percentile to $463,830 at the 90th, with a mean of $288,650 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 103,560 Americans work in this occupation across 38 reporting states and 48 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3.9% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 11,700 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree, with less than 5 years of prior experience generally required and moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of C for this role, with a fatality rate of 17.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 4.8 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Georgia pays the highest state median at $618,090, which is +166% above the national figure. The top metro is Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA at $618,090 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$232,140
per year
Median Hourly
N/A
per hour
Mean Salary
$288,650
average
Employment
103,560
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$232,140 Top 3% higher than 97% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 53-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 53-series occupations with growth data, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers sits on the slower-growing side at +3.9% growth and $232,140 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+3.9%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
11,700
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Work Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-Job Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Moderate Risk
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
17.5/100K
Injury Rate
4.8/100
Danger Index
28/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key 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.
- ▸ Steer aircraft along planned routes, using autopilot and flight management computers.
- ▸ Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$106,710
25th Percentile
$182,280
Median
$232,140
75th Percentile
$384,440
90th Percentile
$463,830
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 38 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | $618,090 | +166% above national |
| 2 | Idaho | $507,640 | +119% above national |
| 3 | Michigan | $428,570 | +85% above national |
| 4 | California | $353,900 | +52% above national |
| 5 | Kentucky | $350,950 | +51% above national |
| 6 | Colorado | $307,490 | +32% above national |
| 7 | Illinois | $293,490 | +26% above national |
| 8 | New York | $255,240 | +10% above national |
| 9 | Alaska | $232,140 | same as national |
| 10 | Washington | $229,900 | 1% below national |
| 11 | Arizona | $227,870 | 2% below national |
| 12 | Florida | $225,020 | 3% below national |
| 13 | Texas | $215,150 | 7% below national |
| 14 | Minnesota | $211,470 | 9% below national |
| 15 | Ohio | $204,170 | 12% below national |
| 16 | Connecticut | $199,870 | 14% below national |
| 17 | Nevada | $192,460 | 17% below national |
| 18 | Utah | $174,590 | 25% below national |
| 19 | Oregon | $173,190 | 25% below national |
| 20 | Indiana | $171,260 | 26% below national |
| 21 | Arkansas | $168,970 | 27% below national |
| 22 | Puerto Rico | $167,050 | 28% below national |
| 23 | Pennsylvania | $164,990 | 29% below national |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $164,880 | 29% below national |
| 25 | North Carolina | $151,540 | 35% below national |
| 26 | Maine | $147,930 | 36% below national |
| 27 | Kansas | $143,580 | 38% below national |
| 28 | Mississippi | $143,580 | 38% below national |
| 29 | South Carolina | $143,580 | 38% below national |
| 30 | Tennessee | $143,580 | 38% below national |
| 31 | Alabama | $136,990 | 41% below national |
| 32 | New Mexico | $136,990 | 41% below national |
| 33 | Oklahoma | $133,680 | 42% below national |
| 34 | Iowa | $131,730 | 43% below national |
| 35 | Nebraska | $131,650 | 43% below national |
| 36 | Louisiana | $120,740 | 48% below national |
| 37 | New Hampshire | $99,280 | 57% below national |
| 38 | Missouri | $97,680 | 58% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 48 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $618,090 | +166% above national |
| 2 | Boise City, ID | $507,640 | +119% above national |
| 3 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $428,570 | +85% above national |
| 4 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $374,680 | +61% above national |
| 5 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $364,730 | +57% above national |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $350,950 | +51% above national |
| 7 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $343,140 | +48% above national |
| 8 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $335,270 | +44% above national |
| 9 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $321,950 | +39% above national |
| 10 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $307,690 | +33% above national |
| 11 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $307,490 | +32% above national |
| 12 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $293,490 | +26% above national |
| 13 | Anchorage, AK | $232,240 | same as national |
| 14 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $229,900 | 1% below national |
| 15 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $229,490 | 1% below national |
| 16 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $228,040 | 2% below national |
| 17 | Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $219,330 | 6% below national |
| 18 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $216,070 | 7% below national |
| 19 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $212,810 | 8% below national |
| 20 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $211,470 | 9% below national |
| 21 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $210,750 | 9% below national |
| 22 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $209,750 | 10% below national |
| 23 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $208,770 | 10% below national |
| 24 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $207,000 | 11% below national |
| 25 | Tucson, AZ | $206,050 | 11% below national |
| 26 | Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | $204,340 | 12% below national |
| 27 | Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $199,870 | 14% below national |
| 28 | Fresno, CA | $195,310 | 16% below national |
| 29 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $180,330 | 22% below national |
| 30 | Mobile, AL | $176,620 | 24% below national |
| 31 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $174,940 | 25% below national |
| 32 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $173,190 | 25% below national |
| 33 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $171,260 | 26% below national |
| 34 | Fort Smith, AR-OK | $170,960 | 26% below national |
| 35 | Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT | $165,590 | 29% below national |
| 36 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $164,480 | 29% below national |
| 37 | Akron, OH | $161,720 | 30% below national |
| 38 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $160,990 | 31% below national |
| 39 | Oklahoma City, OK | $153,940 | 34% below national |
| 40 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $151,540 | 35% below national |
| 41 | Jacksonville, FL | $151,070 | 35% below national |
| 42 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $143,580 | 38% below national |
| 43 | Southeast Alabama nonmetropolitan area | $136,990 | 41% below national |
| 44 | Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR | $130,750 | 44% below national |
| 45 | Richmond, VA | $130,100 | 44% below national |
| 46 | Alaska nonmetropolitan area | $123,040 | 47% below national |
| 47 | Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL | $122,210 | 47% below national |
| 48 | Wichita Falls, TX | $112,260 | 52% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 53 (transportation and material moving) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers make? ▼
What state pays Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers? ▼
How dangerous is being a Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers? ▼
Is Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers a good career? ▼
How does Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $384,440/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Georgia leads at $618,090/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.