BLS Official Data · OEWS May 2025

Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers in Illinois

$316,140 / year · average (mean) annual wage
$151.99 per hour

▲ 9.5% above U.S. average4th of 37 states

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Dataset: OEWS May 2025 Published: May 2026 Coverage: All 50 States + DC
Average$316,140per year
Median$293,490per year
Hourly$151.99per hour
10th – 90th percentile$166,620 – $421,610per year

Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers Pay Range in Illinois

Pay distribution across experience levels

  • 10th Percentile — Entry Level$166,620
  • 25th Percentile — Junior$204,790
  • 50th Percentile — Median$293,490
  • 75th Percentile — Senior$420,280
  • 90th Percentile — Top Earners$421,610

Half of Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers in Illinois earn more than $293,490. The top 10% make $421,610 or more, while entry-level workers start around $166,620.

Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers in Illinois: Key Facts

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025

  • Illinois ranks 4th of 37 states for Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers pay, at $316,140 per year (9.5% above the U.S. average of $288,650).
  • 6,460 people work as Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers in Illinois — 6.2% of all U.S. Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers jobs.
  • Location quotient 1.59: Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers jobs are more concentrated in Illinois than in the U.S. overall.
  • Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $166,620; the top 10% earn over $421,610.
  • Hourly equivalent: $151.99 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
  • The highest-paying state is Georgia at $476,310.
  • Among transportation jobs in Illinois, Air Traffic Controllers pays the most ($164,200).

Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers Job Market in Illinois

Key factors affecting compensation

Illinois's key industries are Finance, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers here earn $316,140 on average, placing the state 4th nationally.

With a cost-of-living index of 1.05 (U.S. = 1.00), a Illinois salary of $316,140 is roughly equivalent to $301,086 at the national average cost of living.

Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Georgia ($476,310), Idaho ($361,180), Michigan ($330,480) are the closest alternatives for Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers weighing a move.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025

Related career salary benchmarks

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this salary

What is the average Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers salary in Illinois?

The average Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers salary in Illinois is $316,140 per year (median $293,490), which is 9.5% above the national average of $288,650.

How does Illinois rank for Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers pay?

Illinois ranks 4th out of 37 states. The highest-paying state is Georgia ($476,310/yr).

How much do entry-level Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers make in Illinois?

The lowest-paid 10% of Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers in Illinois earn about $166,620 per year and the 25th percentile is $204,790.

How much do Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers make per hour in Illinois?

About $151.99 per hour, based on the $316,140 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.

How many Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers work in Illinois?

BLS counts 6,460 Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers jobs in Illinois (OEWS May 2025).

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