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Top 15 cities for commercial pilots by average salary
| Waterbury, CT | $267,680 |
|---|---|
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $226,850 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $226,590 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $218,810 |
| Louisville, KY | $210,350 |
| New York, NY | $204,770 |
| Bismarck, ND | $187,480 |
| Hartford, CT | $185,920 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $185,590 |
| Trenton, NJ | $183,200 |
| San Francisco, CA | $181,600 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $180,600 |
| Seattle, WA | $180,290 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $179,850 |
| San Jose, CA | $177,010 |
Map: Commercial Pilots salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Commercial Pilots salary by state
| State | Metros | Highest average | Lowest average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | 3 | $267,680 | $185,920 |
| New York | 4 | $226,850 | $137,000 |
| California | 16 | $218,810 | $90,500 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $210,350 | $129,460 |
| North Dakota | 3 | $187,480 | $127,500 |
| Wisconsin | 5 | $185,590 | $97,550 |
| New Jersey | 1 | $183,200 | $183,200 |
| Florida | 16 | $180,600 | $64,030 |
| Washington | 2 | $180,290 | $117,130 |
| Maryland | 2 | $179,850 | $138,060 |
| Texas | 7 | $171,660 | $104,990 |
| Illinois | 3 | $171,200 | $75,760 |
| Oregon | 4 | $168,470 | $108,670 |
| Pennsylvania | 4 | $166,500 | $147,180 |
| Montana | 4 | $166,310 | $115,960 |
| North Carolina | 6 | $162,700 | $127,260 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $160,220 | $160,220 |
| Colorado | 5 | $158,080 | $136,830 |
| Ohio | 6 | $153,240 | $88,790 |
| Oklahoma | 2 | $149,860 | $145,080 |
| Georgia | 1 | $148,320 | $148,320 |
| Washington, D.C. | 1 | $148,260 | $148,260 |
| Michigan | 4 | $147,860 | $115,170 |
| Idaho | 1 | $146,500 | $146,500 |
| Tennessee | 5 | $140,930 | $125,980 |
| Indiana | 2 | $138,020 | $113,730 |
| Vermont | 1 | $137,490 | $137,490 |
| Virginia | 2 | $137,100 | $105,720 |
| Minnesota | 1 | $136,710 | $136,710 |
| Iowa | 1 | $135,630 | $135,630 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $132,720 | $132,720 |
| Louisiana | 6 | $132,650 | $89,950 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $130,300 | $130,300 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $129,270 | $94,930 |
| Missouri | 3 | $127,780 | $119,820 |
| Alabama | 5 | $127,440 | $93,540 |
| Arizona | 5 | $125,910 | $79,990 |
| Nevada | 2 | $125,890 | $121,610 |
| Kansas | 2 | $125,550 | $114,930 |
| Nebraska | 1 | $123,720 | $123,720 |
| Utah | 3 | $119,410 | $103,950 |
| South Dakota | 2 | $114,140 | $87,930 |
| Alaska | 2 | $113,590 | $109,100 |
| Arkansas | 2 | $113,200 | $105,560 |
| Wyoming | 1 | $110,820 | $110,820 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $107,150 | $107,150 |
| New Mexico | 1 | $104,030 | $104,030 |
| Puerto Rico | 1 | $90,370 | $90,370 |
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Commercial Pilots salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waterbury, CT | $267,680 | $315,450 | — | 130 |
| Kiryas Joel, NY | $226,850 | $280,630 | — | 50 |
| Bridgeport, CT | $226,590 | $232,600 | — | 90 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $218,810 | $274,730 | — | 130 |
| Louisville, KY | $210,350 | $193,940 | — | 430 |
| New York, NY | $204,770 | $225,900 | — | 1,210 |
| Bismarck, ND | $187,480 | $137,510 | — | 80 |
| Hartford, CT | $185,920 | $211,350 | — | 100 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $185,590 | $177,730 | — | 420 |
| Trenton, NJ | $183,200 | $205,700 | — | 50 |
| San Francisco, CA | $181,600 | $173,070 | — | 380 |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $180,600 | $173,100 | — | 140 |
| Seattle, WA | $180,290 | $126,990 | — | 500 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $179,850 | $171,560 | — | 60 |
| San Jose, CA | $177,010 | $159,420 | — | 200 |
| Modesto, CA | $176,410 | $140,920 | — | 50 |
| Dallas, TX | $171,660 | $160,160 | — | 1,810 |
| Chicago, IL | $171,200 | $157,420 | — | 840 |
| Medford, OR | $168,470 | $124,990 | — | 40 |
| Allentown, PA | $166,500 | $170,600 | — | 50 |
| Bozeman, MT | $166,310 | $137,430 | — | 40 |
| Wilmington, NC | $162,700 | $172,320 | — | 40 |
| Charlotte, NC | $162,670 | $144,750 | — | 430 |
| Buffalo, NY | $161,860 | $153,210 | — | 50 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $161,510 | $149,200 | — | 60 |
| Midland, TX | $160,280 | $198,480 | — | 50 |
| Manchester, NH | $160,220 | $157,210 | — | 40 |
| Denver, CO | $158,080 | $132,810 | — | 710 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $157,600 | $158,670 | — | 310 |
| San Diego, CA | $156,890 | $128,080 | — | 370 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $156,170 | $167,310 | — | n/a |
| Miami, FL | $156,130 | $127,360 | — | 3,440 |
| Naples, FL | $154,470 | $132,980 | — | 190 |
| Reading, PA | $153,460 | $133,240 | — | 40 |
| Columbus, OH | $153,240 | $175,690 | — | 1,410 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $150,620 | $130,230 | — | 190 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $150,610 | $119,400 | — | 120 |
| Chico, CA | $150,150 | $123,880 | — | 40 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $149,860 | $156,760 | — | 200 |
| Redding, CA | $149,700 | $135,340 | — | 50 |
| Peoria, IL | $149,360 | $101,820 | — | 30 |
| Cleveland, OH | $148,680 | $166,520 | — | 600 |
| Atlanta, GA | $148,320 | $146,880 | — | 560 |
| Washington, DC | $148,260 | $125,850 | — | 510 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $147,860 | $128,770 | — | 100 |
| Raleigh, NC | $147,260 | $130,600 | — | 140 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $147,180 | $134,030 | — | 200 |
| Fort Collins, CO | $146,510 | $145,210 | — | 30 |
| Boise, ID | $146,500 | $130,900 | — | 120 |
| Sacramento, CA | $146,350 | $124,570 | — | 190 |
| Tampa, FL | $146,330 | $106,440 | — | 360 |
| Portland, OR | $145,760 | $105,910 | — | 300 |
| Tulsa, OK | $145,080 | $137,490 | — | 150 |
| Fargo, ND | $145,070 | $131,950 | — | 110 |
| Austin, TX | $141,740 | $132,400 | — | 200 |
| Crestview, FL | $141,480 | $126,270 | — | 110 |
| San Antonio, TX | $141,380 | $118,190 | — | 240 |
| Chattanooga, TN | $140,930 | $130,630 | — | 40 |
| Houston, TX | $140,580 | $131,420 | — | 790 |
| Salem, OR | $140,360 | $125,120 | — | 140 |
| Boulder, CO | $139,720 | $165,780 | — | 40 |
| Riverside, CA | $139,460 | $112,320 | — | 250 |
| Greensboro, NC | $138,240 | $133,870 | — | 110 |
| Baltimore, MD | $138,060 | $129,850 | — | 140 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $138,020 | $128,900 | — | 370 |
| Burlington, VT | $137,490 | $137,810 | — | n/a |
| Nashville, TN | $137,480 | $131,590 | — | 370 |
| Richmond, VA | $137,100 | $119,710 | — | 120 |
| Rochester, NY | $137,000 | $129,350 | — | 40 |
| Greeley, CO | $136,830 | $106,150 | — | 30 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $136,710 | $126,550 | — | 560 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $135,980 | $137,180 | — | 40 |
| Des Moines, IA | $135,630 | $121,490 | — | 130 |
| Memphis, TN | $135,300 | $122,420 | — | 200 |
| Lansing, MI | $134,340 | $128,500 | — | 30 |
| Oxnard, CA | $134,320 | $102,300 | — | 150 |
| Lakeland, FL | $133,330 | $101,050 | — | 100 |
| Providence, RI | $132,720 | $106,510 | — | 80 |
| New Orleans, LA | $132,650 | $135,950 | — | 140 |
| Detroit, MI | $132,400 | $133,220 | — | 410 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $131,550 | $106,350 | — | 220 |
| Jackson, MS | $130,300 | $119,990 | — | 60 |
| Kingsport, TN | $130,300 | $114,350 | — | 30 |
| Lexington, KY | $129,460 | $111,030 | — | 60 |
| Charleston, SC | $129,270 | $118,980 | — | 50 |
| Dayton, OH | $129,010 | $120,910 | — | 70 |
| Orlando, FL | $128,640 | $117,790 | — | 550 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $128,110 | $117,660 | — | 130 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $127,850 | $114,560 | — | 30 |
| Kansas City, MO | $127,780 | $131,000 | — | 200 |
| Grand Forks, ND | $127,500 | $111,680 | — | 40 |
| Mobile, AL | $127,440 | $137,960 | — | 50 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $127,260 | $128,170 | — | 40 |
| Sarasota, FL | $126,830 | $105,720 | — | 50 |
| Knoxville, TN | $125,980 | $123,000 | — | 80 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $125,910 | $105,770 | — | 1,020 |
| Las Vegas, NV | $125,890 | $105,340 | — | 940 |
| Stockton, CA | $125,550 | $115,450 | — | 40 |
| Topeka, KS | $125,550 | $104,530 | — | 40 |
| Fresno, CA | $125,370 | $112,000 | — | 80 |
| Springfield, MO | $125,260 | $114,000 | — | 50 |
| Missoula, MT | $124,230 | $104,260 | — | 40 |
| Birmingham, AL | $124,160 | $127,280 | — | 150 |
| Omaha, NE | $123,720 | $110,210 | — | 110 |
| Reno, NV | $121,610 | $108,550 | — | 70 |
| St. Louis, MO | $119,820 | $91,540 | — | 380 |
| Greenville, SC | $119,470 | $122,230 | — | 40 |
| Ogden, UT | $119,410 | $107,600 | — | 60 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $118,930 | $99,720 | — | 310 |
| Salinas, CA | $118,490 | $102,580 | — | 30 |
| Akron, OH | $117,330 | $84,170 | — | 80 |
| Helena, MT | $117,320 | $100,940 | — | 50 |
| Spokane, WA | $117,130 | $111,170 | — | 60 |
| Prescott Valley, AZ | $116,980 | $102,460 | — | 60 |
| Tucson, AZ | $116,600 | $109,480 | — | 150 |
| Billings, MT | $115,960 | $105,830 | — | 50 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $115,170 | $126,400 | — | 530 |
| Wichita, KS | $114,930 | $106,250 | — | 370 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $114,650 | $94,410 | — | 40 |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $114,140 | $112,100 | — | 110 |
| Columbus, IN | $113,730 | $99,250 | — | n/a |
| Fairbanks, AK | $113,590 | $103,570 | — | 60 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $113,320 | $107,810 | — | 50 |
| Little Rock, AR | $113,200 | $99,600 | — | 100 |
| Cheyenne, WY | $110,820 | $106,860 | — | 40 |
| Houma, LA | $110,810 | $97,570 | — | 160 |
| Madison, WI | $110,610 | $109,740 | — | 90 |
| Ocala, FL | $110,510 | $100,240 | — | n/a |
| Anchorage, AK | $109,100 | $99,920 | — | 590 |
| Bend, OR | $108,670 | $99,010 | — | 80 |
| Fort Myers, FL | $108,630 | $97,780 | — | 100 |
| Honolulu, HI | $107,150 | $103,460 | — | 210 |
| Sierra Vista, AZ | $106,240 | $100,420 | — | 30 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $105,720 | $80,160 | — | 180 |
| Huntsville, AL | $105,660 | $101,540 | — | 60 |
| Fayetteville, AR | $105,560 | $100,230 | — | 60 |
| Pensacola, FL | $105,480 | $98,000 | — | 90 |
| Deltona, FL | $105,140 | $77,750 | — | 110 |
| El Paso, TX | $104,990 | $94,690 | — | 80 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $104,480 | $89,700 | — | 90 |
| Daphne, AL | $104,050 | $95,870 | — | 50 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $104,030 | $101,820 | — | 150 |
| Provo, UT | $103,950 | $92,150 | — | 60 |
| Lake Charles, LA | $101,420 | $99,600 | — | 70 |
| Oshkosh, WI | $97,990 | $86,860 | — | 50 |
| La Crosse, WI | $97,550 | $99,350 | — | 30 |
| Columbia, SC | $94,930 | $92,300 | — | 60 |
| Lafayette, LA | $94,530 | $79,430 | — | 210 |
| Montgomery, AL | $93,540 | $91,120 | — | 60 |
| Visalia, CA | $90,500 | $75,600 | — | 40 |
| San Juan, PR | $90,370 | $81,180 | — | 60 |
| Monroe, LA | $89,950 | $91,490 | — | 40 |
| Toledo, OH | $88,790 | $61,080 | — | 100 |
| Rapid City, SD | $87,930 | $86,150 | — | 60 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $79,990 | $68,460 | — | 120 |
| Champaign, IL | $75,760 | $67,770 | — | 30 |
| Sebastian, FL | $64,030 | $45,160 | — | n/a |
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Commercial Pilots salary: questions
Where do commercial pilots make the most money?
In Waterbury, CT, with an average of $267,680 a year, among the 157 metro areas we cover.
What is the average commercial pilots salary in the U.S.?
$146,776 a year across all U.S. metro areas, weighted by employment (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where is commercial pilots pay the lowest?
Sebastian, FL, at $64,030 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-2012.
- U.S. metro average: employment-weighted mean of every metro area in the OEWS file (not only the ones listed here).
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.