Commercial Pilots pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $126,390 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Columbia earn between $71,790 and $126,390.
- $50K10th
- $72K25th
- $92KMedian
- $126K75th
- $126K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,930 | $7,911 | — |
| Median | $92,300 | $7,692 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $71,790 | $5,982 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $126,390 | $10,532 | — |
*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 Columbia vs. South Carolina and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Columbia earn 13% less than the South Carolina average ($108,640) and 35% less than the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is -25% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $94,930 | $92,300 | $49,720 | $126,390 | 60 |
| South Carolina | $108,640 | $105,740 | $49,720 | $164,920 | 290 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $94,930, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $71,634 a year, or $5,970 a month and $2,755 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Columbia a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 6% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 93.7), so the average $94,930 buys what about $101,354 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($46,430). A typical home costs $256,154, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other South Carolina cities
Columbia ranks 3rd of 3 South Carolina metro areas for this job; Charleston pays the most ($129,270).
- Charleston$129,270
- Greenville$119,470
- Columbia$94,930
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 Columbia: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $71,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Columbia?
About $71,634 a year ($5,970 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,930.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 35% less 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 Columbia, SC (17900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.8%.
- 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 0.53, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.53).
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