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Salary comparison

Commercial Pilots vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand: Who Earns More?

Commercial Pilotss out-earn Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands by $83K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Commercial Pilotss land at $123,220 and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands at $40,240. The education gap is real: commercial pilot programs typically require no formal educational credential, while laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand programs require no formal educational credential. Top-paying state for Commercial Pilotss is Connecticut ($232,160); for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands it's Minnesota ($46,280).

Commercial Pilots
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Median salary
$123,220
$40,240
Hourly rate
$null/hr
$19.35/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$58,850
$31,270
Senior level (90th %)
$266,620
$55,140
Education required
No formal educational credential
No formal educational credential
U.S. employment
47,630
2,950,280
Job growth (10-year)
N/A
N/A
Category
Transportation
Transportation
Top-paying state
Connecticut
Minnesota

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Commercial Pilots median pay.

State
Commercial Pilots
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand
Connecticut
$232,160
$43,640
New York
$177,430
$44,630
California
$165,590
$44,710
Colorado
$139,680
$45,370
North Dakota
$133,010
$45,690
Wisconsin
$129,860
$44,610
Oregon
$120,760
$44,750
Washington
$117,730
$46,190
Hawaii
$113,030
$44,120
Nebraska
$104,780
$42,910
Montana
$103,690
$43,840
Arizona
$103,060
$44,290
Iowa
$101,800
$43,490
Alaska
$100,120
$44,510
Minnesota
$98,630
$46,280

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Commercial Pilotss or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands?

Commercial Pilotss earn more nationally. The median is $123,220 for Commercial Pilotss versus $40,240 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands, a difference of $83K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Commercial Pilots or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

BLS Employment Projections data is not available for one or both occupations. Check the individual career pages for current outlook figures.

Which requires more education, Commercial Pilots or Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand?

Commercial Pilots typically requires no formal educational credential. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand requires no formal educational credential. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Commercial Pilotss get paid the most?

Connecticut is the top-paying state for Commercial Pilotss at $232,160/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Commercial Pilots vs. Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Connecticut, Commercial Pilotss earn $232,160 vs. $43,640 for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Commercial Pilots salary breakdownView →Full Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand salary breakdownView →Best cities for Commercial Pilotss by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hands by take-home payExplore →How to become a commercial pilotsGuide →How to become a laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, handGuide →