Top 15 cities for this job by average salary
| Atlanta, GA | $477,580 |
|---|---|
| Boise, ID | $370,730 |
| San Francisco, CA | $339,750 |
| Detroit, MI | $332,090 |
| Chicago, IL | $316,610 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $315,590 |
| San Jose, CA | $305,220 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $304,820 |
| Seattle, WA | $300,680 |
| Houston, TX | $300,150 |
| New York, NY | $297,880 |
| Tampa, FL | $293,430 |
| Denver, CO | $292,040 |
| Hartford, CT | $291,840 |
| San Diego, CA | $278,370 |
Map: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary by metro area
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Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary by state
Georgia pays airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers the most statewide, $476,310 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $476,310 | $618,090 | 8,770 | 1 | $477,580 | $477,580 |
| Idaho | $361,180 | $507,640 | 330 | 1 | $370,730 | $370,730 |
| Michigan | $330,480 | $428,570 | n/a | 1 | $332,090 | $332,090 |
| Illinois | $316,140 | $293,490 | 6,460 | 1 | $316,610 | $316,610 |
| California | $310,190 | $353,900 | 10,670 | 6 | $339,750 | $252,590 |
| Kentucky | $302,340 | $350,950 | 6,260 | 1 | $265,090 | $265,090 |
| Washington | $298,560 | $229,900 | 3,450 | 2 | $300,680 | $269,600 |
| New York | $298,260 | $255,240 | 6,900 | 1 | $297,880 | $297,880 |
| Colorado | $290,850 | $307,490 | 5,830 | 1 | $292,040 | $292,040 |
| Connecticut | $282,160 | $199,870 | 80 | 1 | $291,840 | $291,840 |
| Texas | $275,710 | $215,150 | 10,930 | 4 | $300,150 | $126,830 |
| Minnesota | $256,750 | $211,470 | 2,960 | 1 | $257,820 | $257,820 |
| Florida | $254,420 | $225,020 | 7,760 | 4 | $293,430 | $129,100 |
| Alaska | $249,460 | $232,140 | 1,350 | 1 | $255,140 | $255,140 |
| Arizona | $236,550 | $227,870 | 2,200 | 2 | $237,520 | $218,380 |
| Washington, D.C. | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $235,100 | $235,100 |
| Puerto Rico | $233,380 | $167,050 | 260 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Ohio | $222,540 | $204,170 | 1,550 | 2 | $315,590 | $173,240 |
| Utah | $214,140 | $174,590 | 1,880 | 2 | $218,110 | $153,100 |
| Oregon | $209,040 | $173,190 | 750 | 1 | $216,780 | $216,780 |
| Nevada | $204,470 | $192,460 | 2,160 | 1 | $207,530 | $207,530 |
| Indiana | $200,950 | $171,260 | n/a | 1 | $207,730 | $207,730 |
| Maine | $195,680 | $147,930 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Rhode Island | $186,560 | $164,880 | 40 | 1 | $184,510 | $184,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $172,500 | $164,990 | 2,270 | 1 | $174,590 | $174,590 |
| Kansas | $163,070 | $143,580 | 80 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Nebraska | $156,450 | $131,650 | 60 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Alabama | $155,520 | $136,990 | 360 | 1 | $209,110 | $209,110 |
| Arkansas | $152,980 | $168,970 | 250 | 2 | $165,710 | $130,760 |
| Mississippi | $151,890 | $143,580 | 360 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Virginia | n/a | n/a | n/a | 1 | $151,870 | $151,870 |
| New Hampshire | $151,790 | $99,280 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| South Carolina | $150,970 | $143,580 | 110 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| North Carolina | $148,500 | $151,540 | 2,240 | 1 | $146,590 | $146,590 |
| Iowa | $144,660 | $131,730 | 100 | 1 | $155,290 | $155,290 |
| Louisiana | $144,220 | $120,740 | 150 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Oklahoma | $144,000 | $133,680 | 180 | 1 | $155,420 | $155,420 |
| Tennessee | $142,700 | $143,580 | 110 | 1 | $146,760 | $146,760 |
| New Mexico | $141,570 | $136,990 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Missouri | $110,610 | $97,680 | 120 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | $477,580 | $618,090 | — | 8,700 |
| Boise, ID | $370,730 | $507,640 | — | n/a |
| San Francisco, CA | $339,750 | $374,680 | — | 2,900 |
| Detroit, MI | $332,090 | $428,570 | — | n/a |
| Chicago, IL | $316,610 | $293,490 | — | 6,360 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $315,590 | $350,950 | — | 3,330 |
| San Jose, CA | $305,220 | $343,140 | — | 50 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $304,820 | $364,730 | — | 6,710 |
| Seattle, WA | $300,680 | $229,900 | — | 3,340 |
| Houston, TX | $300,150 | $307,690 | — | 4,160 |
| New York, NY | $297,880 | $335,270 | — | 10,030 |
| Tampa, FL | $293,430 | $229,490 | — | 180 |
| Denver, CO | $292,040 | $307,490 | — | 5,600 |
| Hartford, CT | $291,840 | $199,870 | — | 70 |
| San Diego, CA | $278,370 | $321,950 | — | 340 |
| Dallas, TX | $272,180 | $212,810 | — | 5,980 |
| Spokane, WA | $269,600 | $219,330 | — | n/a |
| Lexington, KY | $265,090 | $208,770 | — | n/a |
| Fresno, CA | $261,420 | $195,310 | — | 80 |
| Miami, FL | $259,790 | $216,070 | — | 4,810 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $257,820 | $211,470 | — | 2,940 |
| Anchorage, AK | $255,140 | $232,240 | — | 1,270 |
| Riverside, CA | $252,590 | $207,000 | — | 160 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $237,520 | $228,040 | — | 2,100 |
| Washington, DC | $235,100 | $209,750 | — | 5,100 |
| Tucson, AZ | $218,380 | $206,050 | — | 60 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $218,110 | $174,940 | — | 1,740 |
| Portland, OR | $216,780 | $173,190 | — | 670 |
| Mobile, AL | $209,110 | $176,620 | — | 30 |
| Austin, TX | $208,280 | $210,750 | — | 150 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $207,730 | $171,260 | — | n/a |
| Las Vegas, NV | $207,530 | $204,340 | — | 2,070 |
| Providence, RI | $184,510 | $164,480 | — | 50 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $174,590 | $180,330 | — | 1,760 |
| Akron, OH | $173,240 | $161,720 | — | 40 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $166,250 | $151,070 | — | 120 |
| Fort Smith, AR | $165,710 | $170,960 | — | 40 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $155,420 | $153,940 | — | 90 |
| Des Moines, IA | $155,290 | $160,990 | — | 60 |
| Provo, UT | $153,100 | $165,590 | — | 70 |
| Richmond, VA | $151,870 | $130,100 | — | 50 |
| Nashville, TN | $146,760 | $143,580 | — | 60 |
| Charlotte, NC | $146,590 | $151,540 | — | 2,090 |
| Little Rock, AR | $130,760 | $130,750 | — | 50 |
| Pensacola, FL | $129,100 | $122,210 | — | 90 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | $126,830 | $112,260 | — | 80 |
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Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary: questions
Where do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make the most money?
In Atlanta, GA, with an average of $477,580 a year, among the 46 metro areas we cover.
What is the average airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary in the U.S.?
$288,650 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $232,140, so half of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers earn more than that and half less.
What salary should airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers nationwide earn between $182,280 (25th percentile) and $384,440 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers the most?
Georgia, with a statewide average of $476,310 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pay the lowest?
Wichita Falls, TX, at $126,830 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-2011.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.