How much does a commercial pilot make in Detroit?
$133,200a year
Median yearly pay for commercial pilots in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area. That is $64.05 an hour or $11,100 a month.
- Hourly
- $64.05
- Vs. national median
- +8%
- Rank among cities
- 43 of 157
- Jobs in the area
- 410
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $66,700Median: $133,200Highest 10%: $211,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $66,700 | $32.07 | |
| 25th | $85,130 | $40.93 | |
| Median | $133,200 | $64.05 | |
| 75th | $171,800 | $82.58 | |
| 90th | $211,600 | $101.71 |
Other cities in Michigan
Median yearly pay for commercial pilots.
| Grand Rapids, MI | $128,800 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $126,400 |
Related jobs in Detroit
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Airline Pilot | $428,600 |
| Air Traffic Controller | $178,300 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $69,560 |
| Flight Attendant | $62,490 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Worker | $61,670 |
| Tank Car | $60,440 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $59,740 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver | $59,120 |
| Transportation Inspector | $52,760 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $51,070 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a commercial pilot make an hour in Detroit?
The median hourly pay in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI metro area is $64.05 ($133,200 a year).
Do commercial pilots make more in Detroit than the national average?
Yes: $133,200 against $123,200 nationally, 8% more.
How does Detroit compare with the rest of Michigan?
The median in Michigan is $126,700, so Detroit pays 5% more.
Where does Detroit rank for commercial pilot pay?
43 of 157 metro areas with data.
How much does a commercial pilot make starting out in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% make $66,700 or less a year; the top 10% make $211,600 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.