SOC 53-2011 · Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in Denver, CO

The average salary for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Denver, Colorado is $292,040 a year, according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $307,490: half of the 5,600 people in this job in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($288,650).

$292,040average per year

Median $307,490Take-home ≈ $198,048

  • $189K10th
  • $197K25th
  • $307KMedian
  • $371K75th
  • $378K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

5,600people in this job
+1%vs U.S. average
106cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay range in Denver

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $189,150 a year or less, while the top 10% make $377,860 or more. The middle half of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Denver earn between $197,310 and $371,190.

  • $189K10th
  • $197K25th
  • $307KMedian
  • $371K75th
  • $378K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$292,040$24,337—
Median$307,490$25,624—
Entry level (25th percentile)$197,310$16,442—
Experienced (75th percentile)$371,190$30,932—

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay in Denver vs. Colorado and the U.S.

Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Denver earn about the same as the Colorado average ($290,850) and about the same as the U.S. average ($288,650). At the median the gap is +32% against the U.S. median of $232,140.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Denver$292,040$307,490$189,150$377,8605,600
Colorado$290,850$307,490$189,150$377,8605,830
United States$288,650$232,140$106,710$463,830103,560

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary after taxes in Denver

On the average salary of $292,040, a single filer in Denver takes home about $198,048 a year, or $16,504 a month and $7,617 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.

Colorado paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Denver a good place for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Denver area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.8), so the average $292,040 buys what about $276,077 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 4.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Denver ($62,320). A typical home costs $573,221, or 2.0 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $292,040 is worth in another city

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in nearby metro areas

Highest-paying cities for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers

Atlanta, GA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($477,580).

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary by city

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Reviewed before it counts. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in Denver, CO.

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in Denver: questions

What is the entry-level airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary in Denver?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $189,150 a year and the 25th percentile is $197,310, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers take-home pay in Denver?

About $198,048 a year ($16,504 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $292,040. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.

Do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers earn more in Denver than elsewhere?

The average here is about the same as the U.S. average for this job ($288,650).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-2011; area Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO (19740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.5%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 5.23, this job is 5.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.

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