Commercial pilot earnings by seniority

90th percentile

Top-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$69.62 per hour

$144,810 per year

75th percentile

Senior-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$40.60 per hour

$84,450 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$33.07 per hour

$68,780 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$25.70 per hour

$53,450 per year

10th percentile

Starting level commercial pilot earnings begin at:

$21.47 per hour

$44,650 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 7% more than similar careers in Wisconsin. On average, they make less than air traffic controllers but more than customs brokers.

Career Median Salary
Air traffic controller salary $99K
Freight and cargo inspector salary $90K
Commercial pilot salary $69K
Transportation planner salary $69K
Locomotive engineer salary $60K
Logistician salary $59K
Customs broker salary $57K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)