Commercial Pilots pay range in Fargo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,330 a year or less, while the top 10% make $234,990 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Fargo earn between $105,730 and $198,860.
- $62K10th
- $106K25th
- $132KMedian
- $199K75th
- $235K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $145,070 | $12,089 | — |
| Median | $131,950 | $10,996 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $105,730 | $8,811 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $198,860 | $16,572 | — |
*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 Fargo vs. North Dakota and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Fargo earn 8% less than the North Dakota average ($157,900) and about the same as the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is +7% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fargo | $145,070 | $131,950 | $62,330 | $234,990 | 110 |
| North Dakota | $157,900 | $133,010 | $65,630 | $237,050 | 370 |
| 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 Fargo
On the average salary of $145,070, a single filer in Fargo takes home about $108,873 a year, or $9,073 a month and $4,187 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
The Fargo, ND-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in ND | $108,873 | $9,073 |
| Working in MN | $101,866 | $8,489 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Fargo a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fargo area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.9), so the average $145,070 buys what about $159,644 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Fargo ($51,050). A typical home costs $327,854, or 2.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other North Dakota cities
Fargo ranks 2nd of 3 North Dakota metro areas for this job; Bismarck pays the most ($187,480).
- Bismarck$187,480
- Fargo$145,070
- Grand Forks$127,500
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 Fargo: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Fargo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $62,330 a year and the 25th percentile is $105,730, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Fargo?
About $108,873 a year ($9,073 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $145,070.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Fargo than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Fargo, ND-MN (22020). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 12.5%.
- 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 2.36, this job is 2.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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