Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Georgia make a median of $145,100 a year. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $247K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.89), which stretches that salary to about $157,906 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,434/month, or 16.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Georgia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $145K get you in Georgia?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Georgia
Georgia sits well above the national pay line for commercial pilots, local pay runs about 18% higher than the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,434/month, 16.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Georgia offers a genuinely strong financial position for commercial pilotss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Georgia
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $145K. Top earners bring in $247K or more, a $194K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Georgia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $147K | +1% | 560 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Georgia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Georgia?
Yes — at the median salary of $145K, rent takes 16.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,434/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Georgia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,181/month. At HUD’s $1,434/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 Georgia?
Local pay is 18% above the national median — $145K here vs. $123K nationally.
How does Georgia compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Georgia pays $145K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $158K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Georgia?
The median is $145,100 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,010, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $247,410. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $145K enough to live in Georgia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,535/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,434/month, which eats 16.8% 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 Georgia?
Georgia has a Regional Price Parity of 91.89 (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 $157,906 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.