Commercial Pilots pay range in Memphis
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,900 a year or less, while the top 10% make $206,830 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Memphis earn between $100,020 and $181,810.
- $56K10th
- $100K25th
- $122KMedian
- $182K75th
- $207K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $135,300 | $11,275 | — |
| Median | $122,420 | $10,202 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $100,020 | $8,335 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $181,810 | $15,151 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only).
Commercial Pilots salary after taxes in Memphis
On the average salary of $135,300, a single filer in Memphis takes home about $103,744 a year, or $8,645 a month and $3,990 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
The Memphis, TN-MS-AR metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $103,744 | $8,645 |
| Working in MS | $99,064 | $8,255 |
| Working in AR | $98,938 | $8,245 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Memphis a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Memphis area are 8% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.2), so the average $135,300 buys what about $146,780 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Memphis ($46,890). A typical home costs $247,229, or 1.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other Tennessee cities
Memphis ranks 3rd of 5 Tennessee metro areas for this job; Chattanooga pays the most ($140,930).
- Chattanooga$140,930
- Nashville$137,480
- Memphis$135,300
- Kingsport$130,300
- Knoxville$125,980
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
Does this match what you are paid?
Anonymous, no account. Results update as visitors answer.
Share your pay anonymously
Commercial Pilots salary in Memphis: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Memphis?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $55,900 a year and the 25th percentile is $100,020, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Memphis?
About $103,744 a year ($8,645 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $135,300. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Memphis than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($146,776).
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 Memphis, TN-MS-AR (32820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.9%.
- 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 1.08, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.