Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn a median of $160,990 a year, based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $86,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $294,570 for the top 10%. That is 31% lower than the national median of $232,140. Pay here is 22% higher than the Iowa statewide median of $131,730. There are 0.15 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.22). The average (mean) salary is $155,290, close to the median.
Pay range for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $86,570 |
| 25th percentile | $86,570 |
| Median | $160,990 |
| 75th percentile | $168,510 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $294,570 |
| Average (mean) | $155,290 |
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 | $13,415.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,707.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,191.92 |
| Weekly | $3,095.96 |
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.
Buying a home? On a $160,990 salary, see how much house you can afford in Iowa at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
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 or the Iowa statewide figures.
Related jobs in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Pilot | $121,490 | — |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,720 | $29.19 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,800 | $17.69 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $46,370 | $22.29 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,200 | $20.77 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $61,340 | $29.49 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,080 | $23.60 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $46,330 | $22.27 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,770 | $17.68 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $46,210 | $22.22 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,540 | $18.05 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $34,680 | $16.68 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $56,990 | $27.40 |
| Parking Attendant | $30,080 | $14.46 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA
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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The median salary for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $160,990 a year. Pay ranges from $86,570 for the lowest-paid 10% to $294,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
The top 10% of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area earn at least $294,570 a year. The top 25% earn $168,510 or more.
What is the starting pay for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $86,570 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA?
About 60 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are employed in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area, not counting the self-employed.