Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Arizona make a median of $103,060 a year. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $202K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $106,898 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 21.6% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $103K actually covers in Arizona, month by month
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Arizona
Pay for commercial pilots in Arizona runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,437/month, 22% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Arizona can be a reasonable trade-off for commercial pilotss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $103K. Top earners bring in $202K or more, a $137K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Arizona
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $109K | +6% | 150 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $106K | +3% | 1,020 |
| Prescott Valley-Prescott | $102K | -1% | 60 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas | $100K | -3% | 30 |
| Flagstaff | $68K | -34% | 120 |
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Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $103K, rent takes 22% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,334/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Arizona?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $103K here vs. $123K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Arizona pays $103K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — below the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Arizona?
The median is $103,060 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,290, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $201,660. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $103K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,526/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 22% 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 Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (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 $106,898 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.