Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in Washington
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in Washington earn a median of $229,900 a year, based on BLS data for 3,450 workers.
Pay ranges from $140,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $529,820 for the top 10%. That is 1% lower than the national median of $232,140. Washington ranks 10th of 37 states for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pay. There are 0.97 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $298,560, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $140,780 |
| 25th percentile | $202,420 |
| Median | $229,900 |
| 75th percentile | $396,810 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $529,820 |
| Average (mean) | $298,560 |
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 | $19,158.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $9,579.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $8,842.31 |
| Weekly | $4,421.15 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $229,900 | 3,340 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $219,330 | n/a |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $173,190 | 670 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Pilot | $117,730 | — |
| Air Traffic Controller | $162,570 | $78.16 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $84,050 | $40.41 |
| Flight Attendant | $74,090 | — |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $44,620 | $21.45 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,760 | $31.13 |
| Light Truck Driver | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,910 | $24.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $74,250 | $35.70 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $39,220 | $18.86 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $63,370 | $30.47 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $40,070 | $19.26 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $72,280 | $34.75 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Washington is $229,900 a year. Pay ranges from $140,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $529,820 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in Washington?
The top 10% of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Washington earn at least $529,820 a year. The top 25% earn $396,810 or more.
What is the starting pay for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $140,780 a year, and a quarter of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers earn $202,420 or less.
How many airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers work in Washington?
About 3,450 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.