Outpaid

Commercial Pilots salary

The BLS estimates 47,630 Commercial Pilots jobs in the U.S. with a median base pay of $123,220 (May 2025, SOC 53-2012). Across 44 metros with published figures, medians range from $79,430 in Lafayette, LA to $225,900 in New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ.

COMMERCIAL PILOTS · UNITED STATES · BLS
BLS · UNITED STATES · ALL EMPLOYERS, ALL EXPERIENCE LEVELS
P10$58,850P25$84,540MEDIAN$123,220P75$190,440P90$266,620
30 SECONDS · NO SIGNUP · ON-DEVICE

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HIGHEST-PAYING METROS

  1. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$225,900 · 1,210 jobs
  2. Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN$193,940 · 430 jobs
  3. Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI$177,730 · 420 jobs
  4. Columbus, OH$175,690 · 1,410 jobs
  5. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$173,070 · 380 jobs
  6. Cleveland, OH$166,520 · 600 jobs
  7. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$160,160 · 1,810 jobs
  8. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$159,420 · 200 jobs
  9. Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD$158,670 · 310 jobs
  10. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$157,420 · 840 jobs

LARGEST METROS

  1. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL$127,360 · 3,440 jobs
  2. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX$160,160 · 1,810 jobs
  3. Columbus, OH$175,690 · 1,410 jobs
  4. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$225,900 · 1,210 jobs
  5. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ$105,770 · 1,020 jobs
  6. Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV$105,340 · 940 jobs
  7. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$157,420 · 840 jobs
  8. Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX$131,420 · 790 jobs
  9. Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO$132,810 · 710 jobs
  10. Cleveland, OH$166,520 · 600 jobs

ALL METROS (A–Z)

Columbus, OH · Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX · Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ · Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ

Questions

What is the median Commercial Pilots salary in the U.S.?

$123,220 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half earn $84,540–$190,440.

Where do Commercial Pilots earn the most?

Highest metro medians: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ($225,900), Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN ($193,940), Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI ($177,730). Cost of living differs, so compare offers locally.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025 (metro, state and national estimates). Employer filing counts: U.S. DOL OFLC LCA disclosure data FY2026 Q3, visa-sponsored positions only.