How much does a commercial pilot make in Charleston?
$119,000a year
Median yearly pay for commercial pilots in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area. That is $57.20 an hour or $9,915 a month.
- Hourly
- $57.20
- Vs. national median
- -3%
- Rank among cities
- 81 of 157
- Jobs in the area
- 50
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $42,370Median: $119,000Highest 10%: $227,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $42,370 | $20.37 | |
| 25th | $85,450 | $41.08 | |
| Median | $119,000 | $57.20 | |
| 75th | $163,000 | $78.38 | |
| 90th | $227,000 | $109.13 |
Other cities in South Carolina
Median yearly pay for commercial pilots.
| Charlotte, NC | $144,800 |
| Columbia, SC | $92,300 |
Related jobs in Charleston
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Ship Engineer | $98,450 |
| Captain | $91,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $80,880 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Worker | $63,440 |
| Sailor and Marine Oiler | $59,100 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $55,150 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator | $46,890 |
| Bus Driver | $46,460 |
| Bus Driver | $40,580 |
| Light Truck Driver | $38,300 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a commercial pilot make an hour in Charleston?
The median hourly pay in the Charleston-North Charleston, SC metro area is $57.20 ($119,000 a year).
Do commercial pilots make more in Charleston than the national average?
No: $119,000 against $123,200 nationally, 3% less.
How does Charleston compare with the rest of South Carolina?
The median in South Carolina is $105,700, so Charleston pays 13% more.
Where does Charleston rank for commercial pilot pay?
81 of 157 metro areas with data.
How much does a commercial pilot make starting out in Charleston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $42,370 or less a year; the top 10% make $227,000 or more.
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.