Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in North Carolina
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in North Carolina earn a median of $151,540 a year, based on BLS data for 2,240 workers.
Pay ranges from $97,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $206,700 for the top 10%. That is 35% lower than the national median of $232,140. North Carolina ranks 24th of 37 states for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pay. There are 0.45 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.68). The average (mean) salary is $148,500, close to the median.
Pay range for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $97,700 |
| 25th percentile | $99,180 |
| Median | $151,540 |
| 75th percentile | $199,660 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $206,700 |
| Average (mean) | $148,500 |
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 | $12,628.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,314.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,828.46 |
| Weekly | $2,914.23 |
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 $151,540 salary, see how much house you can afford in North Carolina at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in cities in North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $151,540 | 2,090 |
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial Pilot | $127,310 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| Air Traffic Controller | $129,230 | $62.13 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,950 | $17.29 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Light Truck Driver | $39,910 | $19.19 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $33,470 | $16.09 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $44,670 | $21.48 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in North Carolina is $151,540 a year. Pay ranges from $97,700 for the lowest-paid 10% to $206,700 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in North Carolina earn at least $206,700 a year. The top 25% earn $199,660 or more.
What is the starting pay for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $97,700 a year, and a quarter of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers earn $99,180 or less.
How many airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers work in North Carolina?
About 2,240 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.