Is Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers a growing field?

BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 3.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.

What education is required for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in Michigan

Median annual—

Mean annual$307,070

Range (10th to 90th)Not published

Michigan employment2,650

State vs nationalNot comparable

Salary distribution

Where Michigan airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers fall on the wage curve.

Distribution not available

The Bureau of Labor Statistics suppresses wage percentiles for this occupation and state when the surveyed cell has too few employers to publish without revealing individual firm pay. National figures and adjacent states below remain a useful reference.

Real disclosed salaries

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in Michigan: actual employer-disclosed pay

Public records from 11 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $243,360. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.

Top employers filing for this role

Companies with the most certified filings for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in Michigan. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.

Employer	Most-filed title	Filings	Median
Kalitta Air, LLC	First Officer	11	$243,360

Recent sample filings

A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.

First Officer at Kalitta Air, LLC
$243,360
YpsilantiDecided Dec 24, 2025I-203-25352-492552
First Officer at Kalitta Air, LLC
$243,360
YpsilantiDecided Dec 11, 2025I-203-25339-459624
First Officer at Kalitta Air, LLC
$243,360
YpsilantiDecided Sep 11, 2025I-203-25248-288436
First Officer at Kalitta Air, LLC
$243,360
YpsilantiDecided Aug 19, 2025I-203-25225-238346
First Officer at Kalitta Air, LLC
$243,360
YpsilantiDecided Jul 17, 2025I-203-25191-166192
First Officer at Kalitta Air, LLC
$243,360
YpsilantiDecided Mar 17, 2025I-203-25069-762868
First Officer at Kalitta Air, LLC
$243,360
YpsilantiDecided Jan 29, 2025I-203-25022-634695
First Officer at Kalitta Air, LLC
$243,360
YpsilantiDecided Jan 14, 2025I-203-25006-597573

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.

By seniority

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay by experience level in Michigan

Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.

Entry →Mid →Senior →Lead →

Wage trend

Median annual wage in Michigan over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.

Not enough history to render a trend yet. Check back after the next refresh.

Typical entry

Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
Less than 5 years
On-the-job training
Moderate-term on-the-job training

Top skills (O*NET)

Operation and Control
Technical
4.9 / 5
Response Orientation
Ability
4.9 / 5
Transportation
Knowledge
4.8 / 5
Problem Sensitivity
Ability
4.8 / 5
Operations Monitoring
Technical
4.6 / 5
Control Precision
Ability
4.6 / 5
Reaction Time
Ability
4.3 / 5
Near Vision
Ability
4.3 / 5

Common tasks (O*NET)

01
Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.
02
Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
03
Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.
04
Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.
05
Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists.
06
Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
07
Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
08
Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.

10-year outlook

Growth 2024 → 2034

+3.9%

Projected annual openings

—

BLS outlook

Average growth

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.

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Top metros in Michigan

Metro-level salary data for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in major Michigan metropolitan areas.

Detroit—

Compare Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay across nearby states

Frequently asked questions

Is Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers a growing field?: BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 3.9% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
What education is required for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?: BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.

Disclaimer

Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.