Commercial Pilots pay range in Columbus
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $88,730 a year or less, while the top 10% make $149,270 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Columbus earn between $88,730 and $126,320.
- $89K10th
- $89K25th
- $99KMedian
- $126K75th
- $149K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $113,730 | $9,478 | — |
| Median | $99,250 | $8,271 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $88,730 | $7,394 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $126,320 | $10,527 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only).
Commercial Pilots salary after taxes in Columbus
On the average salary of $113,730, a single filer in Columbus takes home about $83,484 a year, or $6,957 a month and $3,211 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Columbus's local income tax (1.75%).
Is Columbus a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbus area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.0), so the average $113,730 buys what about $122,286 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbus ($48,470). A typical home costs $277,164, or 2.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other Indiana cities
Columbus ranks 2nd of 2 Indiana metro areas for this job; Indianapolis pays the most ($138,020).
- Indianapolis$138,020
- Columbus$113,730
Highest-paying cities for commercial pilots
Waterbury, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($267,680).
- Waterbury, CT$267,680
- Kiryas Joel, NY$226,850
- Bridgeport, CT$226,590
- Santa Rosa, CA$218,810
- Louisville, KY$210,350
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Commercial Pilots salary in Columbus: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $88,730 a year and the 25th percentile is $88,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Columbus?
About $83,484 a year ($6,957 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $113,730. Includes Columbus's local income tax (1.75%).
Do commercial pilots earn more in Columbus than elsewhere?
The average here is 23% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($146,776).
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; area Columbus, IN (18020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 14.2%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Columbus's local income tax (1.75%).
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