How much does a Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers make?

The median annual wage for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is $232,140 ($112 per hour). Pay ranges from about $106,710 at the 10th percentile to $463,830 at the 90th percentile.

What is the average salary for a Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

The average (mean) annual salary is $288,650, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.

Which state pays Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss the most?

Georgia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $618,090.

Is Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers a growing occupation?

BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 104K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.

What does a Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers do?

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..

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary

Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · 104K employed in the U.S.

Median annual

$232,140

Median hourly

$112

Average annual

$288,650

Typical range

$106,710–$463,830

Pay distribution

10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.

10th$106,710

25th$182,280

Median$232,140

75th$384,440

90th$463,830

What this role pays

The median annual salary for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is $232,140 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $112 an hour at a full-time schedule.

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.

Most earn between $106,710 and $463,830 a year. There are roughly 104K people employed as airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.

Salary calculator

Convert your pay and see where it lands for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers.

Pay amountPay period

Hours / weekWeeks / year

Hourly: $111.61
Daily: $893
Weekly: $4,464
Bi-weekly: $8,928
Monthly: $19,345
Annual: $232,140

$232,140 a year is around the 50th percentile for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss. The median is $232,140.

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — U.S., May 2025
Percentile	Hourly	Annual
10th percentile	N/A	$106,710
25th percentile	N/A	$182,280
Median	N/A	$232,140
75th percentile	N/A	$384,440
90th percentile	N/A	$463,830
Average (mean)	N/A	$288,650
Employment	103,560 people

Key skills

Operation and Control
Operations Monitoring
Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Monitoring
Judgment and Decision Making
Reading Comprehension
Time Management
Speaking
Active Learning

Highest-paying states

Median annual wage by state.

1Georgia$618,090
2Idaho$507,640
3Michigan$428,570
4California$353,900
5Kentucky$350,950
6Colorado$307,490
7Illinois$293,490
8New York$255,240
9Alaska$232,140
10Washington$229,900
11Arizona$227,870
12Florida$225,020

Top-paying metro areas

Median annual wage by metro area.

1Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA$618,090
2Boise City, ID$507,640
3Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI$428,570
4San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$374,680
5Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$364,730
6Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN$350,950
7San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$343,140
8New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$335,270
9San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$321,950
10Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$307,690
11Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$307,490
12Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$293,490

Related job titles

Employers advertise Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers roles under these titles.

Related occupations

What a Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers does

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 gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.
Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers make?: The median annual wage for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is $232,140 ($112 per hour). Pay ranges from about $106,710 at the 10th percentile to $463,830 at the 90th percentile.
What is the average salary for a Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?: The average (mean) annual salary is $288,650, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
Which state pays Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineerss the most?: Georgia has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $618,090.
Is Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers a growing occupation?: BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 104K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
What does a Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers do?: 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..