Commercial pilot earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$79.22 per hour

$164,780 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$62.05 per hour

$129,070 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$47.78 per hour

$99,390 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$37.54 per hour

$78,080 per year

10th percentile

Starting level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$24.24 per hour

$50,420 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 Texas. On average, they make less than air traffic controllers but more than freight and cargo inspectors.

Career Median Salary
Air traffic controller salary $153K
Commercial pilot salary $99K
Ship captain salary $103K
Shipmate salary $103K
Aviation inspector salary $99K
Freight and cargo inspector salary $99K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)