Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Colorado make a median of $139,680 a year. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $270K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Colorado. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $140K get you in Colorado?
About commercial pilots
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Colorado
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $140K. Top earners bring in $270K or more, a $210K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Colorado
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs | $167K | +20% | N/A |
| Boulder | $166K | +19% | 40 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland | $145K | +4% | 30 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $133K | -5% | 710 |
| Greeley | $106K | -24% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Colorado numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Colorado?
Yes — at the median salary of $140K, rent takes 24.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,044/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Colorado?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,587/month.
Is commercial pilot a high-paying job in Colorado?
Local pay is 13% above the national median — $140K here vs. $123K nationally.
How does Colorado compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Colorado pays $140K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +13%.
How much do commercial pilots make in Colorado?
The median is $139,680 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,780, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $269,630. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $140K enough to live in Colorado?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,340/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,044/month, which eats 24.5% 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 Colorado?
Colorado 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 $139,680 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.