Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Bozeman, MT make a median of $137,430 a year. The range runs from $80K at the entry level to $313K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.51), that's roughly $134,065 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,154/month, or 25.8% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $137K get you in Bozeman?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bozeman’s Regional Price Parity (102.51). 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 Bozeman
Bozeman sits well above the national pay line for commercial pilots, local pay runs about 12% higher than the U.S. median of $123K. Rent runs $2,154/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 102.51) 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 Bozeman, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Billings | $106K | $113K |
| Helena | $101K | $106K |
| Missoula | $104K | $108K |
| Boise City | $131K | $133K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bozeman, MT
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $137K. Top earners bring in $313K or more, a $233K 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 Bozeman numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Bozeman?
Yes — at the median salary of $137K, rent takes 26.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,154/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Bozeman?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $80K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,810/month. At HUD’s $2,154/month FMR, rent would take 45% 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 Bozeman?
Local pay is 12% above the national median — $137K here vs. $123K nationally.
How does Bozeman compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Bozeman pays $137K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.51), the purchasing-power equivalent is $134K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Bozeman, MT?
The median is $137,430 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,170, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $313,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $137K enough to live in Bozeman?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,140/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,154/month, which eats 26.5% 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 Bozeman?
Bozeman has a Regional Price Parity of 102.51 (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 $134,065 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.