Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is a notable career in the 53 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.

Live DataLast updated: April 17, 2026·Source: BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0

Verified

Sources: BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0Updated: 2024 data · Verified April 2026How we compile →

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Data Overview

soc	53-2011
title	Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
onet code	53-2011.00
description	Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, national, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots.
job zone	4
major group	53
tot emp	99,300
a mean	280,570
a median	226,600
a pct10	98,560
a pct25	154,360
a pct75	N/A
a pct90	N/A
h mean	N/A
h median	N/A

Typical Tasks for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

The day-to-day work of a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers typically centers on use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.

Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.Core
Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.Core
Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.Core
Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.Core
Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists.Core
Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.Core
Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.Core
Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.Core

Top Skills for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

Workers in this occupation rely most on Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, and Active Listening. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 4.11 out of 5 — critical for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.

Operation and Control

4.88

Operations Monitoring

4.62

Active Listening

4.12

Monitoring

4.12

Critical Thinking

4.12

Judgment and Decision Making

4.00

Reading Comprehension

3.88

Time Management

3.88

Active Learning

3.75

Speaking

3.75

Education & Entry Qualifications

Among working airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers, the most common entry qualification is a Bachelor's Degree (61.0%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 61% of incumbents. This is a degree-heavy profession — most incumbents hold a four-year degree or beyond.

Bachelor's Degree

61.0%

High School Diploma

18.2%

Less than a High School Diploma

8.0%

Associate's Degree (or other 2

6.3%

Post

5.1%

Salary by State — Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

Median annual pay is highest in Alaska at $226,490 and lowest in Wyoming at $46,070 — a 4.9× spread. The top five states (Alaska, Florida, Texas, Oregon, Colorado) average $217,578. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.

State	Median	Mean	10th %	90th %	Employed
Alaska	$226,490	$222,280	$57,690	—	1,620
Florida	$220,350	$265,890	$108,990	—	6,640
Texas	$214,670	$261,260	$89,870	—	10,050
Oregon	$214,520	$264,300	$98,550	—	740
Colorado	$211,860	$254,770	$103,310	—	5,840
Arizona	$198,800	$209,750	$96,410	—	2,070
Connecticut	$189,630	$250,950	$83,340	—	—
Minnesota	$184,560	$188,580	$109,580	—	—
Nevada	$180,600	$191,900	$88,450	—	1,710
Pennsylvania	$172,710	$207,920	$86,080	—	4,030
Indiana	$171,050	$188,780	$65,000	—	—
Arkansas	$165,980	$158,600	$113,030	$166,760	340
South Carolina	$158,290	$163,870	$94,020	$221,440	160
Maine	$158,190	$232,070	$86,940	—	40
North Carolina	$154,360	$149,350	$97,480	$208,460	4,310
Kansas	$136,510	$134,580	$87,050	$183,580	70
Alabama	$134,430	$145,930	$103,400	$166,860	340
New Mexico	$134,110	$165,500	$69,930	—	70
Utah	$133,230	$160,530	$107,370	—	1,780
Iowa	$130,980	$158,090	$51,940	—	100
Oklahoma	$130,620	$137,120	$110,530	$174,160	190
Tennessee	$129,620	$132,520	$88,340	$172,210	190
Missouri	$122,530	$166,950	$95,780	—	70
Nebraska	$114,480	$144,090	$85,180	$233,760	60
Wisconsin	$103,400	$100,380	$33,680	$143,640	50
New Hampshire	$96,970	$126,910	$72,800	$189,630	40
Louisiana	$94,720	$136,170	$79,030	—	110
Montana	$49,800	$60,900	$38,670	$95,640	140
Wyoming	$46,070	$69,510	$42,190	$117,190	80

Also Known As

Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Air Force Pilot or Airbus Captain frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.

Air Force PilotAirbus CaptainAircraft CaptainAircraft PilotAirline CaptainAirline PilotAirline Pilot Flight InstructorAirline Transport PilotAirplane PilotArmy Helicopter PilotCaptainCheck AirmanCo-PilotCommercial Airline PilotCopilot

💡 Why it matters: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

This data helps you understand how Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers compares to others in the 53 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.

Key Takeaways

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers has a job zone of 4.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers has a tot emp of 99,300.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers has a a mean of 280,570.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers has a a median of 226,600.

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BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0

📊

CertifyWize Editorial TeamData Specialists

The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.

✓ Sourced from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0✓ Quarterly review✓ No paid placements

Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is a career in the 53 category tracked in our database with detailed statistics and comparisons. Data is sourced from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024).

Where does the data for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers come from?

All data for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is sourced from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024). We verify and cross-reference data to ensure accuracy. Our methodology page explains how we process and validate the data.

What is the job zone of Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers has a job zone of 4. This metric is one of the key data points tracked for careers in our database. Use our comparison tool to see how this compares to similar careers.

How does the tot emp of Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers compare to average?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers has a tot emp of 99,300. To see how this compares, visit our rankings page or use the comparison tool to compare Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers against similar careers.

How does Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers compare to other careers?

You can compare Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers with similar careers using our side-by-side comparison tool. Check the "Similar careers" section on this page for the closest matches based on data values, or visit the compare page for a full analysis.

What other careers are in the 53 category?

There are multiple careers in the 53 category. See the "Related careers" section below for others in the same category, or use the search to browse all 53 careers.

Explore More Data Tools

For adjacent public-data tools, methodology notes, and network updates, visit DataPeek Facts.