Commercial Pilots pay range in Wilmington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,190 a year or less, while the top 10% make $251,900 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Wilmington earn between $84,720 and $206,360.
- $72K10th
- $85K25th
- $172KMedian
- $206K75th
- $252K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $162,700 | $13,558 | — |
| Median | $172,320 | $14,360 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $84,720 | $7,060 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $206,360 | $17,197 | — |
*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 Wilmington vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Wilmington earn 17% more than the North Carolina average ($138,680) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is +40% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $162,700 | $172,320 | $72,190 | $251,900 | 40 |
| North Carolina | $138,680 | $127,310 | $61,050 | $243,090 | 1,520 |
| 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 Wilmington
On the average salary of $162,700, a single filer in Wilmington takes home about $116,488 a year, or $9,707 a month and $4,480 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Wilmington a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Wilmington area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 96.4), so the average $162,700 buys what about $168,737 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Wilmington ($45,800). A typical home costs $446,210, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other North Carolina cities
Wilmington ranks 1st of 6 North Carolina metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Wilmington$162,700
- Charlotte$162,670
- Raleigh$147,260
- Greensboro$138,240
- Winston-Salem$135,980
- Fayetteville$127,260
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 Wilmington: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Wilmington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $72,190 a year and the 25th percentile is $84,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Wilmington?
About $116,488 a year ($9,707 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $162,700.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Wilmington than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Wilmington, NC (48900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.73, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.73).
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