SOC 53-2011 · Lexington-Fayette, KY metro

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in Lexington, KY

The average salary for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Lexington, Kentucky is $265,090 a year, according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $208,770: half of the people in this job in the Lexington-Fayette, KY metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 8% less than the U.S. average for this job ($288,650).

$265,090average per year

Median $208,770Take-home ≈ $176,638

  • $100K10th
  • $189K25th
  • $209KMedian
  • $363K75th
  • $376K90th

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

n/apeople in this job
-8%vs U.S. average
93cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay range in Lexington

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $99,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $375,710 or more. The middle half of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Lexington earn between $189,290 and $363,470.

  • $100K10th
  • $189K25th
  • $209KMedian
  • $363K75th
  • $376K90th

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

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$265,090$22,091—
Median$208,770$17,398—
Entry level (25th percentile)$189,290$15,774—
Experienced (75th percentile)$363,470$30,289—

*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 Lexington vs. Kentucky and the U.S.

Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Lexington earn 12% less than the Kentucky average ($302,340) and 8% less than the U.S. average ($288,650). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $232,140.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Lexington$265,090$208,770$99,990$375,710n/a
Kentucky$302,340$350,950$182,780$407,7606,260
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 Lexington

On the average salary of $265,090, a single filer in Lexington takes home about $176,638 a year, or $14,720 a month and $6,794 every two weeks. Taxes take 33% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).

Kentucky paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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

Prices in the Lexington area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.9), so the average $265,090 buys what about $285,384 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 4.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Lexington ($48,620). A typical home costs $327,671, or 1.2 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $265,090 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 Lexington, KY.

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

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

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $99,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $189,290, a fair guide to starting pay.

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

About $176,638 a year ($14,720 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $265,090. Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).

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

The average here is 8% 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 Lexington-Fayette, KY (30460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 13.6%.
  • 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). Includes Lexington's local income tax (2.75%).

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