Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in Iowa
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in Iowa earn a median of $131,730 a year, based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $201,080 for the top 10%. That is 43% lower than the national median of $232,140. Iowa ranks 33rd of 37 states for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pay. There are 0.07 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.10). The average (mean) salary is $144,660, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Iowa
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,100 |
| 25th percentile | $86,570 |
| Median | $131,730 |
| 75th percentile | $168,510 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $201,080 |
| Average (mean) | $144,660 |
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 | $10,977.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,488.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,066.54 |
| Weekly | $2,533.27 |
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 Iowa
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $160,990 | 60 |
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 Iowa
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Pilot | $101,800 | — |
| Air Traffic Controller | $90,790 | $43.65 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $48,870 | $23.50 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,070 | $27.92 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $43,490 | $20.91 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Light Truck Driver | $42,750 | $20.56 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,590 | $22.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,490 | $29.08 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $46,320 | $22.27 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $47,120 | $22.65 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,920 | $17.27 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,470 | $18.02 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $32,580 | $15.66 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Iowa
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 Iowa?
The median salary for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Iowa is $131,730 a year. Pay ranges from $64,100 for the lowest-paid 10% to $201,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in Iowa?
The top 10% of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Iowa earn at least $201,080 a year. The top 25% earn $168,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Iowa?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,100 a year, and a quarter of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers earn $86,570 or less.
How many airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers work in Iowa?
About 100 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are employed in Iowa, not counting the self-employed.