How much does a commercial pilot make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $59.24 an hour or $10,270 a month.
- Hourly
- $59.24
- Average (mean)
- $146,100
- Jobs
- 47,630
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $58,850 | $28.29 | |
| 25th | $84,540 | $40.64 | |
| Median | $123,200 | $59.24 | |
| 75th | $190,400 | $91.56 | |
| 90th | $266,600 | $128.18 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Connecticut | $232,200 |
| New Jersey | $226,700 |
| New York | $177,400 |
| California | $165,600 |
| Delaware | $163,600 |
| Ohio | $150,300 |
| Georgia | $145,100 |
| Colorado | $139,700 |
| Texas | $138,000 |
| Vermont | $137,800 |
| Pennsylvania | $134,000 |
| North Dakota | $133,000 |
| Maryland | $131,200 |
| Kentucky | $130,000 |
| Wisconsin | $129,900 |
| North Carolina | $127,300 |
| Michigan | $126,700 |
| Oklahoma | $126,200 |
| Illinois | $126,100 |
| Florida | $121,900 |
| Oregon | $120,800 |
| Washington | $117,700 |
| Maine | $117,600 |
| Tennessee | $117,500 |
| Hawaii | $113,000 |
| Idaho | $109,600 |
| West Virginia | $106,000 |
| South Carolina | $105,700 |
| Kansas | $105,400 |
| Nevada | $105,300 |
| Virginia | $104,900 |
| Nebraska | $104,800 |
| Indiana | $104,200 |
| Montana | $103,700 |
| Mississippi | $103,600 |
| Arizona | $103,100 |
| Missouri | $103,000 |
| Wyoming | $103,000 |
| Iowa | $101,800 |
| Alabama | $101,400 |
| Alaska | $100,100 |
| Utah | $99,610 |
| Rhode Island | $98,820 |
| Minnesota | $98,630 |
| New Mexico | $97,920 |
| Louisiana | $95,940 |
| Arkansas | $94,410 |
| South Dakota | $83,710 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Waterbury, CT | $315,500 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $280,600 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $274,700 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $232,600 |
| New York, NY | $225,900 |
| Hartford, CT | $211,400 |
| Trenton, NJ | $205,700 |
| Midland, TX | $198,500 |
| Louisville, KY | $193,900 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $177,700 |
| Columbus, OH | $175,700 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $173,100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $173,100 |
| Wilmington, NC | $172,300 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $171,600 |
In other countries
Commercial Pilot belongs to the international group "Aircraft pilots and related associate professionals".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Airline Pilot$232,100
- Air Traffic Controller$148,100
- Airfield Operations Specialist$56,850
- Flight Attendant$63,580
Frequently asked questions
How much does a commercial pilot make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $59.24 ($123,200 a year).
How much does a commercial pilot make a month?
About $10,270 a month before tax, based on a median of $123,200 a year.
How much does a commercial pilot make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $58,850 or less a year ($28.29 an hour); the top 10% make $266,600 or more.
Which state pays commercial pilots the most?
Connecticut, with a median of $232,200 a year, followed by New Jersey ($226,700) and New York ($177,400).
Which city pays commercial pilots the most?
Waterbury-Shelton, CT, with a median of $315,500 a year.
How many commercial pilots are there in the United States?
About 47,630 people work as commercial pilots.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.