Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers is $232,140, or — per hour. About 103,560 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $618,090 in Georgia to $97,680 in Missouri.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 37 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | $618,090 | — | 8,770 | 2.69 |
| 2 | Idaho | $507,640 | — | 330 | 0.57 |
| 3 | Michigan | $428,570 | — | — | — |
| 4 | California | $353,900 | — | 10,670 | 0.88 |
| 5 | Kentucky | $350,950 | — | 6,260 | 4.70 |
| 6 | Colorado | $307,490 | — | 5,830 | 3.05 |
| 7 | Illinois | $293,490 | — | 6,460 | 1.59 |
| 8 | New York | $255,240 | — | 6,900 | 1.07 |
| 9 | Alaska | $232,140 | — | 1,350 | 6.21 |
| 10 | Washington | $229,900 | — | 3,450 | 1.46 |
| 11 | Arizona | $227,870 | — | 2,200 | 1.02 |
| 12 | Florida | $225,020 | — | 7,760 | 1.17 |
| 13 | Texas | $215,150 | — | 10,930 | 1.17 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $211,470 | — | 2,960 | 1.51 |
| 15 | Ohio | $204,170 | — | 1,550 | 0.42 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $199,870 | — | 80 | 0.07 |
| 17 | Nevada | $192,460 | — | 2,160 | 2.09 |
| 18 | Utah | $174,590 | — | 1,880 | 1.62 |
| 19 | Oregon | $173,190 | — | 750 | 0.57 |
| 20 | Indiana | $171,260 | — | — | — |
| 21 | Arkansas | $168,970 | — | 250 | 0.29 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | $164,990 | — | 2,270 | 0.56 |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $164,880 | — | 40 | 0.13 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $151,540 | — | 2,240 | 0.68 |
| 25 | Maine | $147,930 | — | 40 | 0.09 |
| 26 | Tennessee | $143,580 | — | 110 | 0.05 |
| 27 | South Carolina | $143,580 | — | 110 | 0.07 |
| 28 | Mississippi | $143,580 | — | 360 | 0.46 |
| 29 | Kansas | $143,580 | — | 80 | 0.08 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $136,990 | — | 50 | 0.08 |
| 31 | Alabama | $136,990 | — | 360 | 0.26 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $133,680 | — | 180 | 0.16 |
| 33 | Iowa | $131,730 | — | 100 | 0.10 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $131,650 | — | 60 | 0.09 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $120,740 | — | 150 | 0.11 |
| 36 | New Hampshire | $99,280 | — | 50 | 0.10 |
| 37 | Missouri | $97,680 | — | 120 | 0.06 |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make?
The median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in the United States is $232,140, or — per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $106,710, and the top 10% earn $463,830.
How many airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are employed in the U.S.?
About 103,560 people work as airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers nationwide.
Which state pays airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers the most?
Georgia pays the most at a median of $618,090, followed by Idaho ($507,640) and Michigan ($428,570).
Which state pays airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers the least?
Missouri has the lowest median at $97,680.
Where are airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is Alaska at 6.21×.