Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Commercial pilots (SOC 53-2012) employed 47,630 people in May 2025. The median pay is $123,220 a year (n/a an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $58,850 and the highest-paid 10% more than $266,620. BLS projects its employment to change by +5.2% between 2025 and 2035 (about 5,200 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Postsecondary nondegree award.
Highest median pay: Connecticut ($232,160), New Jersey ($226,710), New York ($177,430). Most jobs: Florida (6,340), California (4,900), Texas (4,120).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,850 | $28.29 |
| 25th percentile | $84,540 | $40.64 |
| Median | $123,220 | n/a |
| Mean | $146,080 | $70.23 |
| 75th percentile | $190,440 | $91.56 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $266,620 | $128.18 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 50,400 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 53,000 |
| Change in jobs | 2,600 |
| Percent change | +5.2% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 5,200 |
| Self-employed share | 2.0% |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | Moderate-term on-the-job training |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 780 | 1.20 | $101,420 | $57,030 | $163,100 | -18% | 13% |
| Alaska | 1,000 | 10.07 | $100,120 | $49,610 | $163,410 | -19% | 17% |
| Arizona | 1,540 | 1.55 | $103,060 | $64,290 | $201,660 | -16% | 19% |
| Arkansas | 460 | 1.15 | $94,410 | $43,290 | $171,500 | -23% | 12% |
| California | 4,900 | 0.88 | $165,590 | $63,890 | $500,170 | +34% | 15% |
| Colorado | 1,240 | 1.40 | $139,680 | $59,780 | $269,630 | +13% | 16% |
| Connecticut | 460 | 0.89 | $232,160 | $86,840 | $321,270 | +88% | 8% |
| Delaware | 220 | 1.49 | $163,600 | $83,180 | $264,590 | +33% | 11% |
| Florida | 6,340 | 2.09 | $121,890 | $62,590 | $229,110 | -1% | 18% |
| Georgia | 1,020 | 0.68 | $145,100 | $53,010 | $247,410 | +18% | 12% |
| Hawaii | 350 | 1.84 | $113,030 | $58,470 | $214,630 | -8% | 21% |
| Idaho | 310 | 1.19 | $109,620 | $64,300 | $209,320 | -11% | 15% |
| Illinois | 1,170 | 0.63 | $126,100 | $51,890 | $376,830 | +2% | 13% |
| Indiana | 960 | 0.97 | $104,160 | $63,250 | $221,260 | -15% | 13% |
| Iowa | 300 | 0.62 | $101,800 | $77,790 | $199,340 | -17% | 12% |
| Kansas | 680 | 1.53 | $105,440 | $49,060 | $175,820 | -14% | 12% |
| Kentucky | 800 | 1.30 | $129,990 | $83,130 | $355,390 | +5% | 9% |
| Louisiana | 910 | 1.54 | $95,940 | $46,990 | $169,410 | -22% | 13% |
| Maine | 100 | 0.49 | $117,560 | $73,310 | $252,760 | -5% | 12% |
| Maryland | 360 | 0.42 | $131,210 | $58,070 | $229,430 | +6% | 16% |
| Massachusetts | 160 | 0.14 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Michigan | 1,390 | 1.03 | $126,670 | $58,280 | $205,900 | +3% | 11% |
| Minnesota | 910 | 1.01 | $98,630 | $42,670 | $261,800 | -20% | 16% |
| Mississippi | 240 | 0.67 | $103,640 | $71,050 | $215,010 | -16% | 11% |
| Missouri | 670 | 0.75 | $102,990 | $50,790 | $212,000 | -16% | 12% |
| Montana | 330 | 2.13 | $103,690 | $73,440 | $226,770 | -16% | 14% |
| Nebraska | 290 | 0.94 | $104,780 | $53,710 | $167,450 | -15% | 13% |
| Nevada | 1,100 | 2.32 | $105,340 | $51,350 | $211,260 | -15% | 19% |
| New Hampshire | 440 | 2.09 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| New Jersey | 670 | 0.51 | $226,710 | $52,560 | $326,930 | +84% | 10% |
| New Mexico | 370 | 1.39 | $97,920 | $34,680 | $219,010 | -21% | 14% |
| New York | 1,070 | 0.36 | $177,430 | $63,080 | $297,680 | +44% | 11% |
| North Carolina | 1,520 | 1.00 | $127,310 | $61,050 | $243,090 | +3% | 13% |
| North Dakota | 370 | 2.81 | $133,010 | $65,630 | $237,050 | +8% | 9% |
| Ohio | 2,680 | 1.58 | $150,330 | $60,300 | $219,140 | +22% | 9% |
| Oklahoma | 540 | 1.04 | $126,180 | $75,880 | $220,610 | +2% | 10% |
| Oregon | 670 | 1.11 | $120,760 | $50,960 | $307,900 | -2% | 16% |
| Pennsylvania | 530 | 0.29 | $134,030 | $74,610 | $263,290 | +9% | 11% |
| Rhode Island | 80 | 0.52 | $98,820 | $51,360 | $273,060 | -20% | 17% |
| South Carolina | 290 | 0.41 | $105,740 | $49,720 | $164,920 | -14% | 14% |
| South Dakota | 320 | 2.31 | $83,710 | $51,590 | $157,840 | -32% | 14% |
| Tennessee | 1,030 | 1.03 | $117,480 | $54,740 | $204,650 | -5% | 13% |
| Texas | 4,120 | 0.96 | $137,960 | $68,460 | $259,990 | +12% | 13% |
| Utah | 540 | 1.02 | $99,610 | $60,060 | $175,000 | -19% | 19% |
| Vermont | 40 | 0.40 | $137,810 | $56,820 | $233,150 | +12% | 11% |
| Virginia | 1,130 | 0.89 | $104,890 | $55,310 | $228,970 | -15% | 19% |
| Washington | 890 | 0.82 | $117,730 | $70,420 | $314,200 | -4% | 19% |
| West Virginia | 40 | 0.20 | $105,950 | $64,450 | $174,170 | -14% | 10% |
| Wisconsin | 1,090 | 1.21 | $129,860 | $66,390 | $269,990 | +5% | 11% |
| Wyoming | 190 | 2.17 | $102,990 | $59,990 | $140,320 | -16% | 12% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,210 | $225,900 | $62,820 | $321,550 | 0.42 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 430 | $193,940 | $91,070 | $355,390 | 2.05 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 420 | $177,730 | $78,840 | $269,990 | 1.68 |
| Columbus, OH | 1,410 | $175,690 | $60,300 | $216,270 | 4.15 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 380 | $173,070 | $83,500 | $304,250 | 0.52 |
| Cleveland, OH | 600 | $166,520 | $59,280 | $225,960 | 1.89 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 1,810 | $160,160 | $80,660 | $266,620 | 1.46 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 310 | $158,670 | $71,750 | $271,090 | 0.35 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 840 | $157,420 | $51,890 | $376,830 | 0.61 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 560 | $146,880 | $53,350 | $225,640 | 0.63 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 430 | $144,750 | $67,070 | $265,710 | 1.04 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 410 | $133,220 | $66,700 | $211,550 | 0.70 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 710 | $132,810 | $57,100 | $285,550 | 1.44 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 370 | $131,590 | $57,830 | $218,930 | 1.10 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 790 | $131,420 | $61,600 | $205,450 | 0.79 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 370 | $128,900 | $75,540 | $225,500 | 1.08 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 370 | $128,080 | $64,710 | $285,390 | 0.78 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 3,440 | $127,360 | $69,780 | $292,330 | 3.98 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 500 | $126,990 | $81,780 | $317,970 | 0.79 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 560 | $126,550 | $45,870 | $311,940 | 0.93 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 530 | $126,400 | $58,280 | $178,520 | 7.83 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 510 | $125,850 | $75,310 | $259,570 | 0.53 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 550 | $117,790 | $58,260 | $202,090 | 1.26 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 360 | $106,440 | $62,440 | $277,870 | 0.81 |
| Wichita, KS | 370 | $106,250 | $50,030 | $175,820 | 3.90 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 300 | $105,910 | $63,290 | $314,930 | 0.82 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,020 | $105,770 | $71,650 | $219,760 | 1.40 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 940 | $105,340 | $51,350 | $211,810 | 2.71 |
| Anchorage, AK | 590 | $99,920 | $58,570 | $163,530 | 10.94 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 310 | $99,720 | $61,430 | $208,740 | 1.23 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 380 | $91,540 | $50,790 | $222,780 | 0.93 |
The median is $123,220 a year (n/a an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $58,850 and the highest-paid tenth over $266,620 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
47,630 in May 2025, and BLS projects +5.2% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Postsecondary nondegree award (BLS).
Connecticut, with a median of $232,160 (among states with published figures).