The average salary for a commercial pilot in the United States is around $84,149 per year.
Avg Salary
Commercial pilots earn an average yearly salary of $84,149.
Wages typically start from $41,866 and go up to $169,135.
48% above national average Updated in 2023
Commercial pilot earnings by seniority
Top-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:
$81.32 per hour
$169,135 per year
Senior-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:
$58.42 per hour
$121,511 per year
Mid-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:
$40.46 per hour
$84,149 per year
Junior-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:
$28.02 per hour
$58,275 per year
Starting level commercial pilot earnings begin at:
$20.13 per hour
$41,866 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Commercial pilot salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $99,390 |
| Tennessee | $99,390 |
| Texas | $99,390 |
| Wyoming | $99,390 |
| Mississippi | $98,850 |
| Oklahoma | $98,840 |
| Montana | $98,530 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,460 |
| Indiana | $97,830 |
| New Jersey | $96,080 |
| Kentucky | $93,160 |
| West Virginia | $88,210 |
| Iowa | $87,890 |
| Illinois | $85,780 |
| Arizona | $81,970 |
| Arkansas | $81,730 |
| Oregon | $81,310 |
| Michigan | $81,080 |
| North Dakota | $80,740 |
| Idaho | $80,570 |
| Louisiana | $80,310 |
| Vermont | $80,110 |
| New Mexico | $80,050 |
| Washington | $79,950 |
| Nebraska | $79,630 |
| South Carolina | $79,340 |
| New Hampshire | $78,060 |
| Maine | $66,980 |
| Puerto Rico | $63,590 |
| South Dakota | $63,540 |
| Connecticut | $142,910 |
| Maryland | $130,250 |
| California | $127,110 |
| Georgia | $125,560 |
| New York | $125,250 |
| Ohio | $119,560 |
| Delaware | $114,130 |
| Virginia | $107,990 |
| Colorado | $105,220 |
| Nevada | $104,880 |
| Hawaii | $104,440 |
| Wisconsin | $103,490 |
| Utah | $102,590 |
| Rhode Island | $102,340 |
| Missouri | $102,280 |
| Massachusetts | $102,070 |
| North Carolina | $101,730 |
| Florida | $101,510 |
| Minnesota | $100,630 |
| Alaska | $100,390 |
| Kansas | $100,180 |
How do commercial pilot salaries compare to similar careers?
Commercial pilots earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than air traffic controllers but more than customs brokers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Air traffic controller salary | $101K |
| Ship captain salary | $85K |
| Commercial pilot salary | $84K |
| Shipmate salary | $84K |
| Freight and cargo inspector salary | $78K |
| Aviation inspector salary | $78K |
| Customs broker salary | $67K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)