Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Iowa make a median of $101,800 a year. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $199K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.86), which stretches that salary to about $114,562 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,064/month, or 16.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Iowa. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $102K get you in Iowa?
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What this looks like in Iowa
Pay for commercial pilots in Iowa runs about 17% below the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,064/month, 17.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.86 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Iowa can be a reasonable trade-off for commercial pilotss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Iowa
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $102K. Top earners bring in $199K or more, a $122K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Iowa
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines | $121K | +19% | 130 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Iowa numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Iowa?
Yes — at the median salary of $102K, rent takes 17.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,064/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Iowa?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,667/month. At HUD’s $1,064/month FMR, rent would take 23% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is commercial pilot a high-paying job in Iowa?
Local pay runs 17% below the national median — $102K here vs. $123K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Iowa compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Iowa pays $102K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -17%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.86), the purchasing-power equivalent is $115K — below the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Iowa?
The median is $101,800 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,790, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $199,340. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $102K enough to live in Iowa?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,219/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,064/month, which eats 17.1% 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 Iowa?
Iowa has a Regional Price Parity of 88.86 (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 $114,562 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.