Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Kentucky make a median of $129,990 a year. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $355K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.23), which stretches that salary to about $144,065 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,110/month, or 14.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Kentucky. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $130K get you in Kentucky?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Kentucky
Commercial pilots pay in Kentucky tracks closely to the national median, $130K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,110/month, 14.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.23 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kentucky
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $130K. Top earners bring in $355K or more, a $272K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Kentucky
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $194K | +49% | 430 |
| Lexington-Fayette | $111K | -15% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kentucky numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kentucky?
Yes — at the median salary of $130K, rent takes 14.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,110/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Kentucky?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,988/month. At HUD’s $1,110/month FMR, rent would take 22% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is commercial pilot a high-paying job in Kentucky?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $130K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Kentucky compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Kentucky pays $130K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.23), the purchasing-power equivalent is $144K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Kentucky?
The median is $129,990 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $83,130, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $355,390. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $130K enough to live in Kentucky?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,867/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,110/month, which eats 14.1% 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 Kentucky?
Kentucky has a Regional Price Parity of 90.23 (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 $144,065 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.