📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release
Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers Salary in the United States (2026)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · Updated 2026 · Medium Demand
Average
$288,650
per year
Median
$232,140
per year
Hourly
$138.77
per hour
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$124,566
25th Percentile — Junior$195,990
50th Percentile — Median$232,140
75th Percentile — Senior$356,694
90th Percentile — Top Earners$426,724
💡 The top 10% of Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineerss earn $426,724 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $124,566, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$255.1k
2021
$261.5k
2022
$268.0k
2023
$274.7k
2024
$281.6k
2025
$288.6k
2026
📈 Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers salaries have grown 2.5% year-over-year. Since 2020, the average salary has increased by approximately $33,525.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $447,408 | +55.0% | Medium |
| District of Columbia | $438,748 | +52.0% | Medium |
| California | $409,883 | +42.0% | Medium |
| New York | $398,337 | +38.0% | Medium |
| Alaska | $381,018 | +32.0% | Medium |
| Massachusetts | $375,245 | +30.0% | Medium |
| New Jersey | $369,472 | +28.0% | Medium |
| Washington | $360,812 | +25.0% | Medium |
| Connecticut | $352,153 | +22.0% | Medium |
| Maryland | $331,948 | +15.0% | Medium |
| Rhode Island | $331,948 | +15.0% | Medium |
| New Hampshire | $329,061 | +14.0% | Medium |
| Oregon | $323,288 | +12.0% | Medium |
| Colorado | $317,515 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Virginia | $317,515 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Vermont | $311,742 | +8.0% | Medium |
| Delaware | $303,082 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Illinois | $303,082 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Maine | $294,423 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Nevada | $294,423 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Minnesota | $288,650 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Utah | $288,650 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Arizona | $285,764 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Pennsylvania | $285,764 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Florida | $282,877 | -2.0% | Medium |
| Montana | $274,218 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Texas | $274,218 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Georgia | $268,444 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Idaho | $268,444 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Wyoming | $268,444 | -7.0% | Medium |
| North Dakota | $265,558 | -8.0% | Medium |
| Wisconsin | $265,558 | -8.0% | Medium |
| North Carolina | $262,672 | -9.0% | Medium |
| Michigan | $259,785 | -10.0% | Medium |
| Louisiana | $254,012 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Nebraska | $254,012 | -12.0% | Medium |
| New Mexico | $254,012 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Ohio | $254,012 | -12.0% | Medium |
| South Carolina | $254,012 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Tennessee | $254,012 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Alabama | $251,126 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Missouri | $251,126 | -13.0% | Medium |
| South Dakota | $251,126 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Iowa | $248,239 | -14.0% | Medium |
| Indiana | $245,352 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Kansas | $245,352 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Oklahoma | $242,466 | -16.0% | Medium |
| Arkansas | $239,580 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Kentucky | $239,580 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Mississippi | $230,920 | -20.0% | Medium |
| West Virginia | $225,147 | -22.0% | Medium |
What Factors Affect Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
A Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers's salary is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. States with higher costs of living — such as California, New York, and Washington — typically offer 20–40% higher salaries than the national average to compensate for living expenses.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineerss typically earn $124,566–$195,990 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $356,694–$426,724 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers role currently has medium demand in the job market with a 2.5% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Transportation sector.
🏛️ U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
-
What is the average salary for a Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers?The average salary for a Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers in the United States is $288,650 per year, with a median of $232,140.
-
What is the starting salary for a Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers?Entry-level Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineerss typically earn between $124,566 and $195,990 per year depending on location and employer.
-
What state pays Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineerss the most?California, New York, and Washington typically pay Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineerss the highest salaries due to high cost of living and strong job markets.
-
How much does a Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers make per hour?Based on the average annual salary of $288,650, a Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers earns approximately $138.77 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
-
Is Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers a good career in 2026?Yes — the Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers role has medium demand with 2.5% year-over-year salary growth, indicating a strong and growing career path.
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