SOC 53-2011 · May 2025 · United States
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers across the United States is $232,140 per year, measured over 103,560 jobs. The highest state median is in Georgia, at $618,090.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Where the pay is highest for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Pay for this occupation varies by 532.8% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. Georgia pays $618,090 and Missouri pays $97,680.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | $618,090 | 8,770 | |
| 2 | Idaho | $507,640 | 330 | |
| 3 | Michigan | $428,570 | — | |
| 4 | California | $353,900 | 10,670 | |
| 5 | Kentucky | $350,950 | 6,260 | |
| 6 | Colorado | $307,490 | 5,830 | |
| 7 | Illinois | $293,490 | 6,460 | |
| 8 | New York | $255,240 | 6,900 | |
| 9 | Alaska | $232,140 | 1,350 | |
| 10 | Washington | $229,900 | 3,450 |
States with the most Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 10,930 | $215,150 | |
| 2 | California | 10,670 | $353,900 | |
| 3 | Georgia | 8,770 | $618,090 | |
| 4 | Florida | 7,760 | $225,020 | |
| 5 | New York | 6,900 | $255,240 | |
| 6 | Illinois | 6,460 | $293,490 | |
| 7 | Kentucky | 6,260 | $350,950 | |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,830 | $307,490 | |
| 9 | Washington | 3,450 | $229,900 | |
| 10 | Minnesota | 2,960 | $211,470 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta | $618,090 | 8,700 |
| 2 | Boise City | $507,640 | — |
| 3 | Detroit | $428,570 | — |
| 4 | San Francisco | $374,680 | 2,900 |
| 5 | Los Angeles | $364,730 | 6,710 |
| 6 | Cincinnati | $350,950 | 3,330 |
| 7 | San Jose | $343,140 | 50 |
| 8 | New York | $335,270 | 10,030 |
| 9 | San Diego | $321,950 | 340 |
| 10 | Houston | $307,690 | 4,160 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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