Compensation
Median Pay
$232,140
National median annual wage for this occupation.
National Career Overview
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
National Median Pay
$232,140
Projected Growth
3.9%
Annual Openings
11,700
Career outlook
National Snapshot
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National
Employment
100,000
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Outlook
Projected Growth
3.9%
Projected employment change through 2034.
Opportunity
Annual Openings
11,700
Estimated openings created each year.
Pathway
Preparation
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
STEP 1
Education
Bachelor's degree
STEP 2
Experience
Less than 5 years
STEP 3
Training
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Top Skills for Success
These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Detail oriented
99 / 100
99%
Fine motor
99 / 100
99%
Adaptability
97 / 100
97%
Problem solving & decision making
94 / 100
94%
Mathematics
86 / 100
86%
Critical & analytical thinking
84 / 100
84%
Speaking & listening
78 / 100
78%
Mechanical
77 / 100
77%
Science
77 / 100
77%
Writing & reading
61 / 100
61%
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Location Intelligence
Best Places for This Career
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
PRO
Best Metro Areas
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
- Top-paying cities
- Fast-growing markets
- Local opportunity rankings
CAREERGPS INSIGHTS
Career Analysis for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Is Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers a Good Career?
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (53-2011) offer a specialized career path combining strong compensation with defined entry qualifications. Nationally, the occupation employs about 100,000 people and has a projected employment growth rate of 3.9%, supported by an estimated 12,000 annual openings. This mix of an established workforce and ongoing openings can appeal to students planning ahead as well as career changers seeking a long-term direction. Professionals in this field benefit from a national median annual salary of $226,600, with even higher median earnings in certain states and metro areas. The role typically requires a bachelor’s degree, along with a broad skill set that includes detail orientation, problem solving and decision making, critical and analytical thinking, speaking and listening, fine motor abilities, and mechanical aptitude. For those drawn to a highly skilled, structured profession with clearly defined educational and skill expectations, this occupation represents a focused and rewarding career option to explore.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers have a national median annual salary of $226,600, reflecting the high level of specialization in this occupation. Earnings vary significantly by location. Among the top states by opportunity score, California shows a median salary of $353,900, Colorado $307,490, and New York $255,240, all above the national median. Washington and Texas also offer strong compensation, with median salaries of $229,900 and $215,150, respectively. Top metro areas show even higher median salaries. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA reports $374,680, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $364,730, and San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $343,140. The New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area has a median of $335,270. These figures illustrate that professionals in this field can see substantial earning potential, especially in select metropolitan regions and high-opportunity states.
Job Outlook for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
This occupation has national employment of about 100,000 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers, with projected employment growth of 3.9%. In practical terms, this growth is paired with an estimated 12,000 annual openings, indicating recurring opportunities for new entrants as well as experienced professionals seeking new positions. The 3.9% projected growth rate appears consistently across the top states and metro areas listed, suggesting a similar growth expectation in those regions. For students and career changers, the combination of an established employment base, ongoing annual openings, and positive projected growth can signal a field with steady demand. While the data do not specify the reasons behind this growth or the distribution of openings across regions, they do point to a profession that is expected to continue needing new and replacement workers over the coming years.
Where Are the Best Opportunities for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?
Location has a major impact on opportunity for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers. Among states, California stands out with a median salary of $353,900, employment of 10,670, and the highest listed opportunity score of 67.38. Texas also supports a large workforce with 10,930 employed, a median salary of $215,150, and an opportunity score of 51.57. New York, Colorado, and Washington combine solid employment levels with strong median pay and opportunity scores ranging from 56.29 to 65.78. At the metro level, the differences are even more pronounced. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro has the highest opportunity score at 77.42, with a median salary of $343,140, even though employment is relatively small at 50. By contrast, New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ has a similar opportunity score of 77.27 but far larger employment at 10,030 and a median salary of $335,270. Several California metros, including San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont and Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, show very high median salaries with strong opportunity scores, underscoring how select metros can offer especially attractive combinations of pay and opportunity.
Education for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
The typical education requirement for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers is a bachelor’s degree. For students and career changers, this means planning for a four-year degree as a key step toward entry into the field. Beyond formal education, the skill profile associated with this occupation is broad and demanding. Important skills include being detail oriented and possessing fine motor abilities, which support precise work. Problem solving and decision making, along with critical and analytical thinking, point to the need for strong cognitive capabilities. Speaking and listening are also highlighted, emphasizing effective communication. Mathematics and science skills are part of the core profile, as is mechanical aptitude. Reading and writing round out the list, indicating the importance of handling technical and operational information. Together, these skills suggest that success in this career draws on both technical and analytical strengths as well as strong communication and attention to detail, all built on a bachelor’s-level educational foundation.
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