Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Albuquerque, NM make a median of $101,820 a year. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $165K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.55), that's roughly $106,562 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,464/month, or 22.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $102K get you in Albuquerque?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Albuquerque’s Regional Price Parity (95.55). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Albuquerque
Pay for commercial pilots in Albuquerque runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,464/month, 23.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 95.55) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Albuquerque can be a reasonable trade-off for commercial pilotss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for commercial pilots in metros near Albuquerque, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $167K | , |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington | $160K | $155K |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $106K | $102K |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands | $131K | $133K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Albuquerque, NM
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $165K or more, a $123K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Commercial Pilots salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $232K | +88% | 460 |
| New Jersey | $227K | +84% | 670 |
| New York | $177K | +44% | 1,070 |
| California | $166K | +34% | 4,900 |
| Delaware | $164K | +33% | 220 |
| Ohio | $150K | +22% | 2,680 |
| Georgia | $145K | +18% | 1,020 |
| Colorado | $140K | +13% | 1,240 |
| Texas | $138K | +12% | 4,120 |
| Vermont | $138K | +12% | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $134K | +9% | 530 |
| North Dakota | $133K | +8% | 370 |
| Maryland | $131K | +6% | 360 |
| Kentucky | $130K | +5% | 800 |
| Wisconsin | $130K | +5% | 1,090 |
| North Carolina | $127K | +3% | 1,520 |
| Michigan | $127K | +3% | 1,390 |
| Oklahoma | $126K | +2% | 540 |
| Illinois | $126K | +2% | 1,170 |
| Florida | $122K | -1% | 6,340 |
| Oregon | $121K | -2% | 670 |
| Washington | $118K | -4% | 890 |
| Maine | $118K | -5% | 100 |
| Tennessee | $117K | -5% | 1,030 |
| Hawaii | $113K | -8% | 350 |
| Idaho | $110K | -11% | 310 |
| West Virginia | $106K | -14% | 40 |
| South Carolina | $106K | -14% | 290 |
| Kansas | $105K | -14% | 680 |
| Nevada | $105K | -15% | 1,100 |
| Virginia | $105K | -15% | 1,130 |
| Nebraska | $105K | -15% | 290 |
| Indiana | $104K | -15% | 960 |
| Montana | $104K | -16% | 330 |
| Mississippi | $104K | -16% | 240 |
| Arizona | $103K | -16% | 1,540 |
| Wyoming | $103K | -16% | 190 |
| Missouri | $103K | -16% | 670 |
| Iowa | $102K | -17% | 300 |
| Alabama | $101K | -18% | 780 |
| Alaska | $100K | -19% | 1,000 |
| Utah | $100K | -19% | 540 |
| Rhode Island | $99K | -20% | 80 |
| Minnesota | $99K | -20% | 910 |
| New Mexico | $98K | -21% | 370 |
| Louisiana | $96K | -22% | 910 |
| Arkansas | $94K | -23% | 460 |
| South Dakota | $84K | -32% | 320 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Albuquerque numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Albuquerque?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 23.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,464/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Albuquerque?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,542/month. At HUD’s $1,464/month FMR, rent would take 58% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is commercial pilot a high-paying job in Albuquerque?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $102K here vs. $123K nationally.
How does Albuquerque compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Albuquerque pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.55), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — below the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Albuquerque, NM?
The median is $101,820 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,360, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $165,060. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Albuquerque?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,335/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,464/month, which eats 23.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a commercial pilots salary go in Albuquerque?
Albuquerque has a Regional Price Parity of 95.55 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median commercial pilots salary is worth about $106,562 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do commercial pilots get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.