Commercial Pilots pay range in Sioux Falls
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,990 a year or less, while the top 10% make $178,300 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Sioux Falls earn between $61,450 and $146,830.
- $52K10th
- $61K25th
- $112KMedian
- $147K75th
- $178K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $114,140 | $9,512 | — |
| Median | $112,100 | $9,342 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $61,450 | $5,121 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $146,830 | $12,236 | — |
*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 Sioux Falls vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Sioux Falls earn 21% more than the South Dakota average ($94,070) and 22% less than the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sioux Falls | $114,140 | $112,100 | $51,990 | $178,300 | 110 |
| South Dakota | $94,070 | $83,710 | $51,590 | $157,840 | 320 |
| 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 Sioux Falls
On the average salary of $114,140, a single filer in Sioux Falls takes home about $89,127 a year, or $7,427 a month and $3,428 every two weeks. Taxes take 22% of gross pay.
The Sioux Falls, SD-MN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in SD | $89,127 | $7,427 |
| Working in MN | $82,889 | $6,907 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Sioux Falls a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Sioux Falls area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 90.6), so the average $114,140 buys what about $125,939 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Sioux Falls ($47,970). A typical home costs $342,936, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other South Dakota cities
Sioux Falls ranks 1st of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Sioux Falls$114,140
- Rapid City$87,930
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 Sioux Falls: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Sioux Falls?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,990 a year and the 25th percentile is $61,450, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Sioux Falls?
About $89,127 a year ($7,427 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $114,140. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Sioux Falls than elsewhere?
The average here is 22% 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 Sioux Falls, SD-MN (43620). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.7%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.96, this job is 2.0 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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