Commercial pilots salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $58,850 | Data unavailable |
| Median (50th percentile) | $123,220 | Data unavailable |
| Mean (average) | $146,080 | Data unavailable |
| 90th percentile | $266,620 | Data unavailable |
BLS publishes only annual wages for this occupation because workers are typically paid on an annual basis rather than hourly.
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Commercial pilots pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 51 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $101,420 | $57,030 | $163,100 | 780 | 1.2 |
| Alaska | $100,120 | $49,610 | $163,410 | 1,000 | 10.07 |
| Arizona | $103,060 | $64,290 | $201,660 | 1,540 | 1.55 |
| Arkansas | $94,410 | $43,290 | $171,500 | 460 | 1.15 |
| California | $165,590 | $63,890 | $500,170 | 4,900 | 0.88 |
| Colorado | $139,680 | $59,780 | $269,630 | 1,240 | 1.4 |
| Connecticut | $232,160 | $86,840 | $321,270 | 460 | 0.89 |
| Delaware | $163,600 | $83,180 | $264,590 | 220 | 1.49 |
| Florida | $121,890 | $62,590 | $229,110 | 6,340 | 2.09 |
| Georgia | $145,100 | $53,010 | $247,410 | 1,020 | 0.68 |
| Hawaii | $113,030 | $58,470 | $214,630 | 350 | 1.84 |
| Idaho | $109,620 | $64,300 | $209,320 | 310 | 1.19 |
| Illinois | $126,100 | $51,890 | $376,830 | 1,170 | 0.63 |
| Indiana | $104,160 | $63,250 | $221,260 | 960 | 0.97 |
| Iowa | $101,800 | $77,790 | $199,340 | 300 | 0.62 |
| Kansas | $105,440 | $49,060 | $175,820 | 680 | 1.53 |
| Kentucky | $129,990 | $83,130 | $355,390 | 800 | 1.3 |
| Louisiana | $95,940 | $46,990 | $169,410 | 910 | 1.54 |
| Maine | $117,560 | $73,310 | $252,760 | 100 | 0.49 |
| Maryland | $131,210 | $58,070 | $229,430 | 360 | 0.42 |
| Massachusetts | Data unavailable | 160 | 0.14 | ||
| Michigan | $126,670 | $58,280 | $205,900 | 1,390 | 1.03 |
| Minnesota | $98,630 | $42,670 | $261,800 | 910 | 1.01 |
| Mississippi | $103,640 | $71,050 | $215,010 | 240 | 0.67 |
| Missouri | $102,990 | $50,790 | $212,000 | 670 | 0.75 |
| Montana | $103,690 | $73,440 | $226,770 | 330 | 2.13 |
| Nebraska | $104,780 | $53,710 | $167,450 | 290 | 0.94 |
| Nevada | $105,340 | $51,350 | $211,260 | 1,100 | 2.32 |
| New Hampshire | Data unavailable | 440 | 2.09 | ||
| New Jersey | $226,710 | $52,560 | $326,930 | 670 | 0.51 |
| New Mexico | $97,920 | $34,680 | $219,010 | 370 | 1.39 |
| New York | $177,430 | $63,080 | $297,680 | 1,070 | 0.36 |
| North Carolina | $127,310 | $61,050 | $243,090 | 1,520 | 1 |
| North Dakota | $133,010 | $65,630 | $237,050 | 370 | 2.81 |
| Ohio | $150,330 | $60,300 | $219,140 | 2,680 | 1.58 |
| Oklahoma | $126,180 | $75,880 | $220,610 | 540 | 1.04 |
| Oregon | $120,760 | $50,960 | $307,900 | 670 | 1.11 |
| Pennsylvania | $134,030 | $74,610 | $263,290 | 530 | 0.29 |
| Puerto Rico | $81,070 | $51,230 | $133,930 | 70 | 0.25 |
| Rhode Island | $98,820 | $51,360 | $273,060 | 80 | 0.52 |
| South Carolina | $105,740 | $49,720 | $164,920 | 290 | 0.41 |
| South Dakota | $83,710 | $51,590 | $157,840 | 320 | 2.31 |
| Tennessee | $117,480 | $54,740 | $204,650 | 1,030 | 1.03 |
| Texas | $137,960 | $68,460 | $259,990 | 4,120 | 0.96 |
| Utah | $99,610 | $60,060 | $175,000 | 540 | 1.02 |
| Vermont | $137,810 | $56,820 | $233,150 | 40 | 0.4 |
| Virginia | $104,890 | $55,310 | $228,970 | 1,130 | 0.89 |
| Washington | $117,730 | $70,420 | $314,200 | 890 | 0.82 |
| West Virginia | $105,950 | $64,450 | $174,170 | 40 | 0.2 |
| Wisconsin | $129,860 | $66,390 | $269,990 | 1,090 | 1.21 |
| Wyoming | $102,990 | $59,990 | $140,320 | 190 | 2.17 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for commercial pilots
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 5,200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 2%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for commercial pilots
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew CIP 49.0102
- Flight Instructor CIP 49.0108
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
- Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required.
- Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
- Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
- Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
- Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
- Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
- Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.
Technology skills
- Adobe Creative Cloud software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- AeroPlanner
- Aeronautical charts
- AirSmith FlightPrompt
- Airdata
- Airline Pilots Daily Aviation Log PPC
- ArduPilot Mission Planner
- Calibration software
- CloudCompare
- ESRI Site Scan for ArcGIS
- Electronic aircraft information databases
- FLIR Thermal Studio Suite
- Flight simulation software
- Kitty Hawk
- LP360
Transferable skills for career changers: Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Coordination, Troubleshooting.
Common job titles: Captain, Charter Pilot, Check Airman, Commercial Helicopter Pilot, Commercial Pilot, EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot), First Officer, Helicopter Pilot, Line Pilot, Pilot.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do commercial pilots make?
The national median annual wage for commercial pilots was $123,220 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $58,850 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $266,620. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do commercial pilots need?
BLS lists postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and moderate-term on-the-job training on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is commercial pilots a growing career?
BLS projects employment of commercial pilots to change +5.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 5,200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay commercial pilots the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Connecticut ($232,160), New Jersey ($226,710), New York ($177,430). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.