Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay range in Des Moines
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $86,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $294,570 or more. The middle half of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Des Moines earn between $86,570 and $168,510.
- $87K10th
- $87K25th
- $161KMedian
- $169K75th
- $295K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $155,290 | $12,941 | — |
| Median | $160,990 | $13,416 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $86,570 | $7,214 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $168,510 | $14,042 | — |
*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 Des Moines vs. Iowa and the U.S.
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Des Moines earn 7% more than the Iowa average ($144,660) and 46% less than the U.S. average ($288,650). At the median the gap is -31% against the U.S. median of $232,140.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines | $155,290 | $160,990 | $86,570 | $294,570 | 60 |
| Iowa | $144,660 | $131,730 | $64,100 | $201,080 | 100 |
| United States | $288,650 | $232,140 | $106,710 | $463,830 | 103,560 |
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 Des Moines
On the average salary of $155,290, a single filer in Des Moines takes home about $112,118 a year, or $9,343 a month and $4,312 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Is Des Moines a good place for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Des Moines area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.7), so the average $155,290 buys what about $169,344 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Des Moines ($51,820). A typical home costs $296,070, or 1.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in nearby metro areas
- Minneapolis, MN$257,820
- Chicago, IL$316,610
- Indianapolis, IN$207,730
- Fort Smith, AR$165,710
- Oklahoma City, OK$155,420
- Little Rock, AR$130,760
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).
- Atlanta, GA$477,580
- Boise, ID$370,730
- San Francisco, CA$339,750
- Detroit, MI$332,090
- Chicago, IL$316,610
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary by city
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Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in Des Moines: questions
What is the entry-level airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $86,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $86,570, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers take-home pay in Des Moines?
About $112,118 a year ($9,343 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $155,290. Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
Do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers earn more in Des Moines than elsewhere?
The average here is 46% less than 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 Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (19780). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 10.6%.
- 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). Iowa school district surtaxes (a percentage of state tax in some districts) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.22, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.22).
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