SOC 53-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — Arkansas
Arkansas · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay in Arkansas is $168,970 a year, 27.2% under the national median of $232,140 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Arkansas is $168,970 a year, 27.2% under the national median of $232,140 for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $130,750 and $168,970. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $124,990 and the ninetieth at $170,960.
The area has 250 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.29 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 37 states with published data for this occupation, Arkansas ranks 21st by median wage. Fort Smith leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $170,960. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 14th of 673 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $124,990 | −46.2% |
| 25th | $130,750 | −43.7% |
| Median (50th) | $168,970 | −27.2% |
| 75th | $168,970 | −27.2% |
| 90th | $170,960 | −26.4% |
| Mean | $152,980 | −34.1% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Arkansas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fort Smith | $170,960 | 40 | |
| 2 | Little Rock | $130,750 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $168,970 goes as far as $194,442 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 16.2% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$168,970as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$194,442US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $168,970 a year, 27.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $124,990 to $170,960 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 250 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 21st of 37 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Fort Smith, at $170,960.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in Arkansas?
The median annual wage is $168,970, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $232,140, so pay in Arkansas is 27.2% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Arkansas earns more than $170,960 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $124,990 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Fort Smith, at $170,960 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 250 jobs in this occupation in Arkansas. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. 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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