Commercial pilot earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$76.15 per hour

$158,390 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$58.97 per hour

$122,650 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$44.58 per hour

$92,720 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$35.64 per hour

$74,130 per year

10th percentile

Starting level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$30.74 per hour

$63,940 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Commercial pilot salary by state

State Name Average Salary
Illinois $99,990
Maryland $97,100
Rhode Island $94,660
Kansas $93,250
Kentucky $93,160
Texas $92,720
Nevada $92,530
Delaware $92,260
Mississippi $92,220
Washington $92,140
Alabama $89,730
Pennsylvania $89,030
Minnesota $87,510
Virginia $87,440
Missouri $86,990
New Jersey $86,660
Hawaii $86,090
Iowa $82,390
New Mexico $82,130
California $81,940
Colorado $81,480
Ohio $81,050
Vermont $80,110
Arizona $79,458
Nebraska $78,820
North Dakota $77,830
Oklahoma $77,560
Florida $77,430
Idaho $76,310
Michigan $75,600
Alaska $75,506
West Virginia $75,000
North Carolina $74,150
Utah $73,490
Tennessee $71,280
Wyoming $70,280
Arkansas $70,170
Wisconsin $68,780
Louisiana $68,740
Oregon $65,820
Indiana $65,510
Montana $64,640
South Dakota $60,520
New Hampshire $57,210
Maine $54,960
New York $127,590
South Carolina $114,210
Connecticut $110,870
Massachusetts $104,830
Georgia $101,600

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 $143K
Commercial pilot salary $93K
Shipmate salary $99K
Ship captain salary $99K
Logistician salary $86K
Freight and cargo inspector salary $87K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)