Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD make a median of $129,850 a year. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $237K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.49), that's roughly $124,270 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,857/month, or 24.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $130K get you in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baltimore-Columbia-Towson’s Regional Price Parity (104.49). 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Commercial pilots pay in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson tracks closely to the national median, $130K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,857/month, 23.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 104.49) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for commercial pilots in metros near Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park | $172K | $170K |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $126K | $116K |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $159K | $155K |
| Pittsburgh | $134K | $142K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $130K. Top earners bring in $237K or more, a $179K 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Yes — at the median salary of $130K, rent takes 23.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,857/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,485/month. At HUD’s $1,857/month FMR, rent would take 53% 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $130K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Baltimore-Columbia-Towson compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson pays $130K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $124K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median is $129,850 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,080, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $236,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $130K enough to live in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,786/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,857/month, which eats 23.9% 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 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has a Regional Price Parity of 104.49 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median commercial pilots salary is worth about $124,270 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.