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 Virginia

Median annual—

Mean annual$279,820

Range (10th to 90th)Not published

Virginia employment—

State vs nationalNot comparable

Salary distribution

Where Virginia 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 Virginia: actual employer-disclosed pay

Public records from 10 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $351,000. 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 Virginia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.

Employer	Most-filed title	Filings	Median
PSA Airlines, Inc.	Airline Pilot	10	$351,000

Recent sample filings

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

Airline Pilot at PSA Airlines, Inc.
$351,000
ArlingtonDecided Dec 2, 2025I-203-25328-432147
Airline Pilot at PSA Airlines, Inc.
$351,000
ArlingtonDecided Nov 24, 2025I-203-25321-412527
Airline Pilot at PSA Airlines, Inc.
$351,000
ArlingtonDecided Nov 24, 2025I-203-25321-412543
Airline Pilot at PSA Airlines, Inc.
$351,000
ArlingtonDecided Nov 24, 2025I-203-25321-412660
Airline Pilot at PSA Airlines, Inc.
$351,000
ArlingtonDecided Nov 4, 2025I-203-25269-336211
Airline Pilot at PSA Airlines, Inc.
$351,000
ArlingtonDecided Nov 4, 2025I-203-25269-336197
Airline Pilot at PSA Airlines, Inc.
$351,000
ArlingtonDecided Sep 25, 2025I-203-25261-318160
Airline Pilot at PSA Airlines, Inc.
$351,000
ArlingtonDecided Sep 25, 2025I-203-25261-318184

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 Virginia

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 Virginia 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 Virginia

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

Richmond$160,270
Virginia Beach$129,310

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.