Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in Kentucky
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in Kentucky earn a median of $350,950 a year, based on BLS data for 6,260 workers.
Pay ranges from $182,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $407,760 for the top 10%. That is 51% higher than the national median of $232,140. Kentucky ranks 5th of 37 states for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 3.1 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 4.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $302,340, close to the median.
Pay range for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $182,780 |
| 25th percentile | $214,120 |
| Median | $350,950 |
| 75th percentile | $398,760 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $407,760 |
| Average (mean) | $302,340 |
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 | $29,245.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $14,622.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $13,498.08 |
| Weekly | $6,749.04 |
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 Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $350,950 | 3,330 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $208,770 | n/a |
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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Pilot | $129,990 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $123,290 | $59.27 |
| Air Traffic Controller | $127,800 | $61.44 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,230 | $20.78 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,090 | $28.89 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $44,830 | $21.55 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,470 | $16.57 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $33,580 | $16.14 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Kentucky is $350,950 a year. Pay ranges from $182,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $407,760 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Kentucky earn at least $407,760 a year. The top 25% earn $398,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $182,780 a year, and a quarter of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers earn $214,120 or less.
How many airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers work in Kentucky?
About 6,260 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.