Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in Washington, DC
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $209,750 a year — 10% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $141,248 take-home, or $11,771 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$39,074
- Social Security (6.2%)$11,439
- Medicare (1.45%)$3,129
- District of Columbia income tax$14,860
- Take-home pay$141,248
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $94,790 | $45.57 | $70,426 | $5,869 |
| 25th percentile | $151,860 | $73.01 | $105,123 | $8,760 |
| Median (50th) | $209,750 | $100.84 | $141,248 | $11,771 |
| 75th percentile | $357,670+ | $171.96 | $223,187 | $18,599 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $358,480+ | $172.35 | $223,619 | $18,635 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $209,750 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers's $141,248 take-home pay has the buying power of $129,723 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Washington, DC has 2.4× the national concentration of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #13 of 13 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta, GA | $239,200+ | $383,004 | $382,782 |
| 2 | Cincinnati, OH | $239,200+ | $238,228 | $249,794 |
| 3 | Houston, TX | $239,200+ | $219,995 | $223,053 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $239,200+ | $226,477 | $195,893 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $239,200+ | $207,048 | $195,731 |
| 6 | Los Angeles, CA | $239,200+ | $221,298 | $194,863 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $239,200+ | $217,470 | $193,198 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $239,200+ | $196,715 | $189,889 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $209,750 | $141,248 | $129,723 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 13 metros →
About the job: airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
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.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +8.3% (faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in Washington, DC?
The median airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $209,750 a year, or about $100.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $151,860 and $239,200+.
What is a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $209,750 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $141,248 a year ($11,771 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $14,860 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers?
Pay here is 10% below the national median of $232,140. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $129,723 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #13 of 13 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 17% of a median airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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