Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay in Illinois
In Illinois, the median pay for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers is $293,490 a year. About 6,460 people work in this job there.
That is 26% higher than the U.S. median ($232,140). Illinois ranks 7th of 37 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Illinois
| Earns more than | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $166,620 |
| 25% of workers | $204,790 |
| Half of workers (median) | $293,490 |
| 75% of workers | $420,280 |
| 90% of workers | $421,610 |
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay in Illinois metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $293,490 | 6,360 |
Illinois unemployment rate: 4.7% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Training on the job: Moderate-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +8.3% over ten years, much faster than average · about 11,200 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in Illinois
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | $81,680 |
| Locomotive Engineers | $93,320 |
| Commercial Pilots | $126,100 |
| Transportation Inspectors | $47,990 |
| Air Traffic Controllers | $181,560 |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | $69,600 |
| Aircraft Service Attendants | $39,070 |
| Flight Attendants | $62,120 |
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.