Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Arkansas make a median of $94,410 a year. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $172K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 87.64), which stretches that salary to about $107,725 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,021/month, or 17.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arkansas. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $94K get you in Arkansas?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Arkansas
Pay for commercial pilots in Arkansas runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,021/month, 17.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 87.64 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Arkansas can be a reasonable trade-off for commercial pilotss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arkansas
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $94K. Top earners bring in $172K or more, a $128K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Arkansas
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers | $100K | +6% | 60 |
| Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway | $100K | +5% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Arkansas numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arkansas?
Yes — at the median salary of $94K, rent takes 17.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,021/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Arkansas?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,597/month. At HUD’s $1,021/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Arkansas?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $94K here vs. $123K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Arkansas compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Arkansas pays $94K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 87.64), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — below the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Arkansas?
The median is $94,410 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $43,290, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $171,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $94K enough to live in Arkansas?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,941/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,021/month, which eats 17.2% 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 Arkansas?
Arkansas has a Regional Price Parity of 87.64 (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 $107,725 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.