Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (SOC 53-2011) employed 103,560 people in May 2025. The median pay is $232,140 a year (n/a an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $106,710 and the highest-paid 10% more than $463,830. BLS projects its employment to change by +8.3% between 2025 and 2035 (about 11,200 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Bachelor's degree, with less than 5 years experience in a related occupation.
Highest median pay: Georgia ($618,090), Idaho ($507,640), California ($353,900). Most jobs: Texas (10,930), California (10,670), Georgia (8,770).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $106,710 | $51.30 |
| 25th percentile | $182,280 | $87.63 |
| Median | $232,140 | n/a |
| Mean | $288,650 | $138.77 |
| 75th percentile | $384,440 | $184.83 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $463,830 | $223.00 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 104,600 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 113,300 |
| Change in jobs | 8,700 |
| Percent change | +8.3% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 11,200 |
| Self-employed share | n/a |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | Less than 5 years |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 360 | 0.26 | $136,990 | $108,890 | $176,620 | -41% | 9% |
| Alaska | 1,350 | 6.21 | $232,140 | $59,130 | $369,150 | +0% | 7% |
| Arizona | 2,200 | 1.02 | $227,870 | $96,380 | $344,080 | -2% | 9% |
| Arkansas | 250 | 0.29 | $168,970 | $124,990 | $170,960 | -27% | 7% |
| California | 10,670 | 0.88 | $353,900 | $179,270 | $427,660 | +52% | 7% |
| Colorado | 5,830 | 3.05 | $307,490 | $189,150 | $377,860 | +32% | 7% |
| Connecticut | 80 | 0.07 | $199,870 | $94,130 | $530,080 | -14% | 9% |
| Florida | 7,760 | 1.17 | $225,020 | $121,240 | $356,680 | -3% | 10% |
| Georgia | 8,770 | 2.69 | $618,090 | $187,570 | $642,610 | +166% | 3% |
| Idaho | 330 | 0.57 | $507,640 | $120,740 | $507,910 | +119% | 3% |
| Illinois | 6,460 | 1.59 | $293,490 | $166,620 | $421,610 | +26% | 5% |
| Iowa | 100 | 0.10 | $131,730 | $64,100 | $201,080 | -43% | 9% |
| Kansas | 80 | 0.08 | $143,580 | $85,860 | $205,580 | -38% | 9% |
| Kentucky | 6,260 | 4.70 | $350,950 | $182,780 | $407,760 | +51% | 3% |
| Louisiana | 150 | 0.11 | $120,740 | $74,700 | $251,190 | -48% | 11% |
| Maine | 40 | 0.09 | $147,930 | $96,630 | $354,100 | -36% | 10% |
| Massachusetts | 2,240 | 0.93 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Minnesota | 2,960 | 1.51 | $211,470 | $128,070 | $353,410 | -9% | 7% |
| Mississippi | 360 | 0.46 | $143,580 | $112,420 | $177,110 | -38% | 8% |
| Missouri | 120 | 0.06 | $97,680 | $60,920 | $172,330 | -58% | 13% |
| Nebraska | 60 | 0.09 | $131,650 | $59,400 | $233,970 | -43% | 10% |
| Nevada | 2,160 | 2.09 | $192,460 | $90,890 | $293,240 | -17% | 11% |
| New Hampshire | 50 | 0.10 | $99,280 | $74,130 | $321,250 | -57% | 19% |
| New Mexico | 50 | 0.08 | $136,990 | $117,080 | $172,330 | -41% | 10% |
| New York | 6,900 | 1.07 | $255,240 | $101,390 | $475,690 | +10% | 8% |
| North Carolina | 2,240 | 0.68 | $151,540 | $97,700 | $206,700 | -35% | 11% |
| Ohio | 1,550 | 0.42 | $204,170 | $100,300 | $406,110 | -12% | 6% |
| Oklahoma | 180 | 0.16 | $133,680 | $119,230 | $184,790 | -42% | 9% |
| Oregon | 750 | 0.57 | $173,190 | $100,260 | $424,850 | -25% | 11% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,270 | 0.56 | $164,990 | $88,090 | $369,300 | -29% | 9% |
| Rhode Island | 40 | 0.13 | $164,880 | $93,300 | $286,150 | -29% | 10% |
| South Carolina | 110 | 0.07 | $143,580 | $97,070 | $227,550 | -38% | 11% |
| Tennessee | 110 | 0.05 | $143,580 | $109,760 | $172,390 | -38% | 11% |
| Texas | 10,930 | 1.17 | $215,150 | $92,370 | $456,570 | -7% | 8% |
| Utah | 1,880 | 1.62 | $174,590 | $108,270 | $433,330 | -25% | 11% |
| Washington | 3,450 | 1.46 | $229,900 | $140,780 | $529,820 | -1% | 10% |
| Wyoming | 80 | 0.44 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 8,700 | $618,090 | $204,020 | $642,610 | 4.52 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 2,900 | $374,680 | $187,960 | $598,960 | 1.83 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 6,710 | $364,730 | $179,270 | $427,660 | 1.61 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 3,330 | $350,950 | $182,780 | $463,830 | 4.54 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 10,030 | $335,270 | $121,220 | $475,690 | 1.59 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 340 | $321,950 | $166,420 | $388,790 | 0.34 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 4,160 | $307,690 | $104,110 | $456,570 | 1.90 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 5,600 | $307,490 | $189,150 | $377,860 | 5.23 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 6,360 | $293,490 | $179,840 | $429,040 | 2.11 |
| Anchorage, AK | 1,270 | $232,240 | $59,130 | $369,150 | 10.80 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3,340 | $229,900 | $160,200 | $529,820 | 2.41 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 2,100 | $228,040 | $96,380 | $344,080 | 1.33 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 4,810 | $216,070 | $128,170 | $356,680 | 2.56 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 5,980 | $212,810 | $92,370 | $417,070 | 2.22 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 2,940 | $211,470 | $130,420 | $353,410 | 2.26 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 5,100 | $209,750 | $94,790 | $358,480 | 2.44 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 2,070 | $204,340 | $90,890 | $293,240 | 2.73 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 1,760 | $180,330 | $89,580 | $390,340 | 0.91 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 1,740 | $174,940 | $140,090 | $433,330 | 3.16 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 670 | $173,190 | $100,260 | $424,850 | 0.83 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 2,090 | $151,540 | $97,700 | $206,700 | 2.31 |
The median is $232,140 a year (n/a an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $106,710 and the highest-paid tenth over $463,830 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
103,560 in May 2025, and BLS projects +8.3% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Bachelor's degree (BLS).
Georgia, with a median of $618,090 (among states with published figures).