Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Boulder, CO make a median of $165,780 a year. The range runs from $32K at the entry level to $251K for experienced workers.
So what does $166K get you in Boulder?
About commercial pilots
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Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for commercial pilots in metros near Boulder, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $167K | , |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $133K | , |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $145K | , |
| Greeley | $106K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Boulder, CO
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $32K. Mid-career wages sit at $166K. Top earners bring in $251K or more, a $219K 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 |
| Missouri | $103K | -16% | 670 |
| Wyoming | $103K | -16% | 190 |
| 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
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 Boulder numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Boulder?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $32K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,928/month.
Is commercial pilot a high-paying job in Boulder?
Local pay is 35% above the national median — $166K here vs. $123K nationally.
How does Boulder compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Boulder pays $166K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +35%.
How much do commercial pilots make in Boulder, CO?
The median is $165,780 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $32,140, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $250,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $166K enough to live in Boulder?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,731/month after taxes. Rent data is not available for this area.
How far does a commercial pilots salary go in Boulder?
Boulder has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median commercial pilots salary is worth about $165,780 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.