Commercial pilot earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$57.11 per hour

$118,790 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$47.62 per hour

$99,040 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$38.14 per hour

$79,340 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$34.98 per hour

$72,750 per year

10th percentile

Starting level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$27.26 per hour

$56,700 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 8% more than similar careers in South Carolina. On average, they make less than air traffic controllers but more than aviation inspectors.

Career Median Salary
Air traffic controller salary $98K
Commercial pilot salary $79K
Transportation planner salary $78K
Customs broker salary $67K
Logistician salary $70K
Aviation inspector salary $64K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)