Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in Illinois
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in Illinois earn a median of $293,490 a year, based on BLS data for 6,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $166,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $421,610 for the top 10%. That is 26% higher than the national median of $232,140. Illinois ranks 7th of 37 states for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pay. There are 1.1 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $316,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Illinois
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $166,620 |
| 25th percentile | $204,790 |
| Median | $293,490 |
| 75th percentile | $420,280 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $421,610 |
| Average (mean) | $316,140 |
Half of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $24,457.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $12,228.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $11,288.08 |
| Weekly | $5,644.04 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in cities in Illinois
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $293,490 | 6,360 |
Highest-paying states for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Georgia | $618,090 |
| Idaho | $507,640 |
| Michigan | $428,570 |
| California | $353,900 |
| Kentucky | $350,950 |
| Colorado | $307,490 |
| Illinois | $293,490 |
| New York | $255,240 |
| Alaska | $232,140 |
| Washington | $229,900 |
See Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay in every state.
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $62,120 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $126,100 | — |
| Air Traffic Controller | $181,560 | $87.29 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $40,550 | $19.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,680 | $18.11 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,320 | $29.00 |
| Light Truck Driver | $47,380 | $22.78 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,720 | $22.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,420 | $31.45 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,090 | $17.35 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $49,090 | $23.60 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,930 | $17.27 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,960 | $18.73 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $65,200 | $31.35 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Illinois
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in Illinois?
The median salary for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Illinois is $293,490 a year. Pay ranges from $166,620 for the lowest-paid 10% to $421,610 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in Illinois?
The top 10% of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Illinois earn at least $421,610 a year. The top 25% earn $420,280 or more.
What is the starting pay for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Illinois?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $166,620 a year, and a quarter of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers earn $204,790 or less.
How many airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers work in Illinois?
About 6,460 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are employed in Illinois, not counting the self-employed.