The US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) issued their 2020 Occupational Outlook Handbook showing that “airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers” had a median annual wage of $160,970, nearly four times the median wage for all US workers, who earned $41,950 on average.
BLS Data Shows Strong Salaries for Airline and Commercial Pilots
Key Takeaways:
- The 2020 BLS data shows a significant median annual wage disparity between airline pilots ($160,970) and commercial pilots ($93,300), with airline pilots in scheduled air transportation earning the highest ($173,780).
- Pilot salaries vary widely based on location and specific role; for example, airline pilots in states like California earned over $208,000, while the lowest-earning commercial pilots made under $47,570.
- The reported median wages do not account for additional benefits commonly received by pilots, such as expense allowances, per diem, international flight pay, or free/reduced-fare flights.
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