Commercial Pilots pay range in Louisville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $91,070 a year or less, while the top 10% make $355,390 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Louisville earn between $125,460 and $355,390.
- $91K10th
- $125K25th
- $194KMedian
- $355K75th
- $355K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $210,350 | $17,529 | — |
| Median | $193,940 | $16,162 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $125,460 | $10,455 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $355,390 | $29,616 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Commercial Pilots pay in Louisville vs. Kentucky and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Louisville earn 25% more than the Kentucky average ($168,100) and 44% more than the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is +57% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville | $210,350 | $193,940 | $91,070 | $355,390 | 430 |
| Kentucky | $168,100 | $129,990 | $83,130 | $355,390 | 800 |
| United States | $146,080 | $123,220 | $58,850 | $266,620 | 47,630 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Commercial Pilots salary after taxes in Louisville
On the average salary of $210,350, a single filer in Louisville takes home about $144,677 a year, or $12,056 a month and $5,565 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
The Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $150,269 | $12,522 |
| Working in KY | $144,677 | $12,056 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Is Louisville a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Louisville area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.1), so the average $210,350 buys what about $226,003 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 4.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Louisville ($48,370). A typical home costs $283,232, or 1.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other Kentucky cities
Louisville ranks 1st of 2 Kentucky metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Louisville$210,350
- Lexington$129,460
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 Louisville: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Louisville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $91,070 a year and the 25th percentile is $125,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Louisville?
About $144,677 a year ($12,056 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $210,350. Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
Do commercial pilots earn more in Louisville than elsewhere?
The average here is 44% more than the U.S. average for this job ($146,080).
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 Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN (31140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- 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 (2026 rules). Includes Louisville's local income tax (2.2%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.05, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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