Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Champaign-Urbana, IL make a median of $67,770 a year. The range runs from $37K at the entry level to $92K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.7), which stretches that salary to about $73,107 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,122/month, or 25.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $68K get you in Champaign-Urbana?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Champaign-Urbana’s Regional Price Parity (92.7). 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 Champaign-Urbana
Pay for commercial pilots in Champaign-Urbana runs about 45% below the U.S. median of $123K. Rent runs $1,122/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.5% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.7 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for commercial pilots in metros near Champaign-Urbana, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $157K | $152K |
| Peoria | $102K | $112K |
| Columbus | $99K | $107K |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $194K | $208K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Champaign-Urbana, IL
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $37K. Mid-career wages sit at $68K. Top earners bring in $92K or more, a $55K 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 Champaign-Urbana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Champaign-Urbana?
Yes — at the median salary of $68K, rent takes 25.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,122/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Champaign-Urbana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $37K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,195/month. At HUD’s $1,122/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Champaign-Urbana?
Local pay runs 45% below the national median — $68K here vs. $123K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Champaign-Urbana compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Champaign-Urbana pays $68K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -45%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $73K — below the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Champaign-Urbana, IL?
The median is $67,770 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $36,580, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $91,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $68K enough to live in Champaign-Urbana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,392/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,122/month, which eats 25.5% 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 Champaign-Urbana?
Champaign-Urbana has a Regional Price Parity of 92.7 (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 $73,107 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.