Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Indiana make a median of $104,160 a year. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $221K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.81), which stretches that salary to about $113,452 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,144/month, or 17% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Indiana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $104K get you in Indiana?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Indiana
Pay for commercial pilots in Indiana runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,144/month, 17.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.81 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 8% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Indiana can be a reasonable trade-off for commercial pilotss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Indiana
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $221K or more, a $158K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Indiana
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $129K | +24% | 370 |
| Columbus | $99K | -5% | N/A |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Indiana numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Indiana?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 17.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,144/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Indiana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,795/month. At HUD’s $1,144/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is commercial pilot a high-paying job in Indiana?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $104K here vs. $123K nationally. Cost of living is 8% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Indiana compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Indiana pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.81), the purchasing-power equivalent is $113K — below the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Indiana?
The median is $104,160 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,250, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $221,260. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Indiana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,541/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,144/month, which eats 17.5% 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 Indiana?
Indiana has a Regional Price Parity of 91.81 (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 $113,452 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.