All careers › Commercial Pilots
Commercial pilot: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $58,850lowest 10% earn less
- $84,54025th percentile
- $123,220median
- $190,44075th percentile
- $266,620top 10% earn more
The median pay for commercial pilots was $123,220 a year in May 2025[1]. Employment is projected to grow 5.2% from 2025 to 2035[2].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +5.2%[2]
- Openings per year
- 5,200[5]
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award[6]
How much do commercial pilots make?
The median wage for commercial pilots was $123,220 a year in May 2025[1]. Half of them earned more and half earned less[1]. For all occupations, the median was $50,980[4]. The average (mean) for commercial pilots was $146,080[7].
The range is wide. BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages, so we do not give an hourly figure[8].
| Measure | Annual wage | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest-paid 10% earned less than[3] | $58,850 | |
| Lowest-paid 25% earned less than[3] | $84,540 | |
| Median[1] | $123,220 | |
| Highest-paid 25% earned more than[3] | $190,440 | |
| Highest-paid 10% earned more than[3] | $266,620 |
A percentile is a boundary, and BLS does not publish a starting salary[9]. These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed and do not include benefits or nonproduction bonuses[10].
For comparison, ONET lists Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers as a related occupation, with a BLS median of $232,140[11]. ONET describes commercial pilots as a separate group that does not include regional, national and international airline pilots[12].
Pay by state and city
Among the 48 states with published data, Connecticut had the highest median at $232,160, followed by New Jersey at $226,710 and New York at $177,430[13]. South Dakota was last at $83,710[13]. Some of these states have few jobs. Connecticut had 460 commercial pilot jobs[13].
The most jobs were in Florida (6,340), California (4,900) and Texas (4,120)[14]. Florida's median was $121,890 and California's was $165,590[13].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the highest medians were in Waterbury-Shelton, CT ($315,450), Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA ($274,730) and the New York-Newark-Jersey City area ($225,900)[15]. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach area had the most jobs, 3,440, with a median of $127,360[16].
Show median pay in 48 states
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut[13] | $232,160 | 460 |
| New Jersey | $226,710 | 670 |
| New York | $177,430 | 1,070 |
| California | $165,590 | 4,900 |
| Delaware | $163,600 | 220 |
| Ohio | $150,330 | 2,680 |
| Georgia | $145,100 | 1,020 |
| Colorado | $139,680 | 1,240 |
| Texas | $137,960 | 4,120 |
| Vermont | $137,810 | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $134,030 | 530 |
| North Dakota | $133,010 | 370 |
| Maryland | $131,210 | 360 |
| Kentucky | $129,990 | 800 |
| Wisconsin | $129,860 | 1,090 |
| North Carolina | $127,310 | 1,520 |
| Michigan | $126,670 | 1,390 |
| Oklahoma | $126,180 | 540 |
| Illinois | $126,100 | 1,170 |
| Florida | $121,890 | 6,340 |
| Oregon | $120,760 | 670 |
| Washington | $117,730 | 890 |
| Maine | $117,560 | 100 |
| Tennessee | $117,480 | 1,030 |
| Hawaii | $113,030 | 350 |
| Idaho | $109,620 | 310 |
| West Virginia | $105,950 | 40 |
| South Carolina | $105,740 | 290 |
| Kansas | $105,440 | 680 |
| Nevada | $105,340 | 1,100 |
| Virginia | $104,890 | 1,130 |
| Nebraska | $104,780 | 290 |
| Indiana | $104,160 | 960 |
| Montana | $103,690 | 330 |
| Mississippi | $103,640 | 240 |
| Arizona | $103,060 | 1,540 |
| Missouri | $102,990 | 670 |
| Wyoming | $102,990 | 190 |
| Iowa | $101,800 | 300 |
| Alabama | $101,420 | 780 |
| Alaska | $100,120 | 1,000 |
| Utah | $99,610 | 540 |
| Rhode Island | $98,820 | 80 |
| Minnesota | $98,630 | 910 |
| New Mexico | $97,920 | 370 |
| Louisiana | $95,940 | 910 |
| Arkansas | $94,410 | 460 |
| South Dakota | $83,710 | 320 |
How to become a commercial pilot
BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education, no work experience in a related occupation, and moderate-term on-the-job training[6]. The BLS handbook profile covers a wider group than this page, including airline pilots, so its training details describe the group as a whole[17]. The steps below follow it.
- Step one: Complete flight training[18]. Some employers require or prefer a degree[19]. Training is offered at FAA-certified flight schools. Some colleges and universities include it in a 2-year or 4-year aviation degree[20].
- Step two: Earn FAA certificates and ratings[21]. Pilots typically earn them in a set order, and the first is the student pilot certificate[22][23].
- Step three: Build flying experience[24]. Airline jobs call for extensive flight experience. Some pilots work as flight instructors or charter pilots to build up hours first[24].
- Step four: Complete employer training[25]. New hires at airlines and on-demand air services go through training required by federal rules. It usually takes several weeks and covers both ground school and flight training[25]. Ratings for specific aircraft are typically gained through the employer[25].
- Step five: Keep your skills current[26]. Pilots must repeat certain maneuvers within set time limits. They also take periodic training and medical exams, generally every year or every other year[26].
The facts we use do not give a total time to qualify or the cost of training.
What commercial pilots do
O*NET describes the job as flying helicopters or fixed-wing planes on nonscheduled air carrier routes. It includes charter, air ambulance and air tour pilots[12]. Job titles that workers report include captain, first officer, charter pilot and helicopter pilot[27]. Typical tasks include:
- Checking the engines, controls and instruments before a flight[28].
- Planning flights with aeronautical charts, following government and company rules[28].
- Working out the speed needed for takeoff from airport altitude, temperature, weight and wind[28].
- Talking with control towers for takeoff and arrival instructions[28].
- Flying the aircraft to carry passengers, mail or freight[28].
- Watching engines, fuel use and aircraft systems in flight[28].
- Flying by instruments when visibility is poor[28].
- Changing fuel, loads, routes or schedules when safety calls for it[28].
Where they work
In the BLS handbook profile, nonscheduled air transportation was the largest employer of airline and commercial pilots in 2025, at 38% of jobs[29]. Pilots are usually based near large airports[30]. About 2% of commercial pilots were self-employed in 2025[31].
Federal rules set maximum work hours and minimum rest between flights for most pilots. Schedules vary, with some days of work followed by some days off. Seniority decides who gets preferred routes and schedules[32].
The work has demands. Long-distance routes can bring fatigue and jet lag, and weather can cause turbulence[33]. The concentration needed and the responsibility for passengers' safety can be tiring[34]. Under federal law, pilots must retire at age 65[34]. Helicopter rescue pilots may fly low in bad weather or at night, and crop-dusting pilots may face chemical exposure and the risk of hitting power lines[35]. BLS says fatalities are uncommon, yet airline and commercial pilots have one of the highest rates of occupational fatalities[36].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of commercial pilots to grow 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 50,400 to 53,000 jobs[2]. That is a gain of 2,600 jobs[2]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same period[37].
BLS expects about 5,200 openings a year on average[5]. Openings come from workers who retire or switch occupations as well as from new jobs[5]. Each year, 3% of workers leave the labor force and 6.5% move to a different occupation[38].
The 50,400 projection figure includes self-employed workers[2]. The 47,630 jobs in the May 2025 wage survey count only wage and salary jobs[39]. The two numbers measure different things.
Is it a good fit?
The pay is well above the all-occupation median, and the range is wide[1][3][4]. Where you live matters, since state medians run from $83,710 to $232,160[13]. Growth is slightly faster than average, with about 5,200 openings a year[2][37][5]. The entry path runs through flight training and FAA certificates, and the facts we use do not say how long or how costly it is[6][21]. The job can also bring fatigue on long-distance routes, variable schedules and seniority-based assignments[33][32]. Anyone weighing it should look at both the pay and these working conditions.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a commercial pilot make a year?
- The median was $123,220 a year in May 2025, and the average was $146,080[1][7]. BLS does not publish an hourly wage for this job[8].
- What degree do you need to be a commercial pilot?
- BLS lists a postsecondary nondegree award as the typical education[6]. The BLS handbook says commercial pilots usually finish flight training, and some employers want or favor a degree[19]. FAA certificates and ratings are also required[21].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Commercial Pilots in the US was $123,220 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Commercial Pilots is projected to grow 5.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 50,400 to 53,000 jobs (a change of +2,600). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Commercial Pilots: 10th percentile $58,850, 25th percentile $84,540, 75th percentile $190,440, 90th percentile $266,620. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 5,200 openings for Commercial Pilots are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Commercial Pilots: education needed for entry: Postsecondary nondegree award; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Commercial Pilots was $146,080 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS publishes only annual wages for Commercial Pilots, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET description of Commercial Pilots. O*NET OnLine
- Median annual wage for Commercial Pilots in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Commercial Pilots jobs: Florida 6,340; California 4,900; Texas 4,120; Ohio 2,680; Arizona 1,540. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Commercial Pilots (areas with at least 100 jobs): Waterbury-Shelton, CT $315,450; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $274,730; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $225,900; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $211,350; Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN $193,940; Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $177,730; Columbus, OH $175,690; Port St. Lucie, FL $173,100. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Commercial Pilots jobs: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL 3,440 (median $127,360); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 1,980; Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX 1,810 (median $160,160); Columbus, OH 1,410 (median $175,690); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,210 (median $225,900); Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ 1,020 (median $105,770). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Airline and Commercial Pilots" covers Commercial Pilots together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 53-2012.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Captain, Charter Pilot, Check Airman, Commercial Helicopter Pilot, Commercial Pilot, EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot), First Officer, Helicopter Pilot. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Commercial Pilots. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of airline and commercial pilots in 2025: Nonscheduled air transportation 38%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: 2% of Commercial Pilots were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Injuries and Illnesses. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Commercial Pilots: 3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 6.5% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 47,630 people were employed as Commercial Pilots in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.