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Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in Texas

Considering working as an Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in Texas? Here’s what you need to know. Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, national, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots. Excludes “Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians” (17-3024).

What do Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Make in Texas?

The airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers working in Texas, wages run about $214,670 per year.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$89,870	n/a
25th percentile	$123,930	n/a
Median (50th)	$214,670	$0.00
75th percentile	n/a	n/a
90th percentile	n/a	n/a

The job concentration index in Texas relative to the national average — is 1.13, indicating that airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers earn a median of $58,648 per year ($28.20/hour), above the Texas median.

Employment Outlook

National employment for 1,116,538 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers nationwide. In Texas alone, approximately 10,050 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 340 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers.

Top Texas Metros for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

These are the Texas metros with the most airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Texas.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	4,950	$214,390
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	4,390	n/a
Wichita Falls, TX	70	$107,240

Top States for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Employment

The table below shows the states where the most airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers work.

State	Number Employed
Texas	10,050
California	9,890
Florida	6,640
New York	6,530
Illinois	6,440
Colorado	5,840
North Carolina	4,310
Pennsylvania	4,030
Washington	3,650
Michigan	2,650
Arizona	2,070
Utah	1,780
Nevada	1,710
Alaska	1,620
Ohio	1,070
Oregon	740
Alabama	340
Arkansas	340
Idaho	300
Tennessee	190

Highest-Paying States for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

These states pay the most for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers.

State	Annual Median Salary
Alaska	$226,490
Florida	$220,350
Texas	$214,670
Oregon	$214,520
Colorado	$211,860
Arizona	$198,800
Connecticut	$189,630
Minnesota	$184,560
Nevada	$180,600
Pennsylvania	$172,710

Skills

The most important airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Key abilities for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.
• Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
• Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.
• Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.
• Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists.
• Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
• Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
• Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.
• Steer aircraft along planned routes, using autopilot and flight management computers.
• Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.
• Confer with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters to keep abreast of flight conditions.
• Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.

Work Activities

• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Getting Information
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Processing Information
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Controlling Machines and Processes
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Analyzing Data or Information

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel In-demand technologies: R

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Several college majors map to this occupation:

• Air Transportation

Related Careers

Other careers like airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers include:

• Aerospace Engineers
• Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians
• Avionics Technicians
• Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
• Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors
• First-Line Supervisors of Passenger Attendants

Also Known As

Air Force Pilot, Airbus Captain, Aircraft Captain, Aircraft Pilot, Airline Captain, Airline Pilot, Airline Pilot Flight Instructor, Airline Transport Pilot, Airplane Pilot, Army Helicopter Pilot, Captain, Check Airman, Co-Pilot, Commercial Airline Pilot, Copilot.

References

• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
• O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
• BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
• O*NET-SOC code: 53-2011.00