SOC 53-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — Indianapolis
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN
At $171,260, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers, 26.2% beneath the national figure of $232,140.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $171,260, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers, 26.2% beneath the national figure of $232,140. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $83,680 and $338,390. The lowest tenth earn under $83,680, while the highest tenth earn more than $338,390.
Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 18th of 621 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $83,680 | −64.0% |
| 25th | $83,680 | −64.0% |
| Median (50th) | $171,260 | −26.2% |
| 75th | $338,390 | +45.8% |
| 90th | $338,390 | +45.8% |
| Mean | $207,730 | −10.5% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Indianapolis run 6.7% below the national average, so the median of $171,260 goes as far as $183,558 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 20.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$171,260as reported by BLSLocal price level
93.3US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$183,558US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $171,260 a year, 26.2% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $83,680 to $338,390 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in Indianapolis, IN?
The median annual wage is $171,260, 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 Indianapolis, IN is 26.2% 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 Indianapolis, IN earns more than $338,390 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $83,680 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.
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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