How much does a commercial pilot make in Des Moines?
$121,500a year
Median yearly pay for commercial pilots in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area. That is $58.41 an hour or $10,120 a month.
- Hourly
- $58.41
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 76 of 157
- Jobs in the area
- 130
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $81,270Median: $121,500Highest 10%: $206,400
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $81,270 | $39.07 | |
| 25th | $95,630 | $45.98 | |
| Median | $121,500 | $58.41 | |
| 75th | $162,900 | $78.33 | |
| 90th | $206,400 | $99.23 |
Other cities in Iowa
Median yearly pay for commercial pilots.
| Omaha, NE | $110,200 |
Related jobs in Des Moines
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Airline Pilot | $161,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $75,760 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Worker | $61,340 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $60,720 |
| Bus Driver | $58,930 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $56,990 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator | $49,080 |
| Laborer and Freight | $46,370 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $46,330 |
| Bus Driver | $46,210 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a commercial pilot make an hour in Des Moines?
The median hourly pay in the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metro area is $58.41 ($121,500 a year).
Do commercial pilots make more in Des Moines than the national average?
No: $121,500 against $123,200 nationally, 1% less.
How does Des Moines compare with the rest of Iowa?
The median in Iowa is $101,800, so Des Moines pays 19% more.
Where does Des Moines rank for commercial pilot pay?
76 of 157 metro areas with data.
How much does a commercial pilot make starting out in Des Moines?
The lowest-paid 10% make $81,270 or less a year; the top 10% make $206,400 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.