Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA make a median of $114,350 a year. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $198K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 86.45), which stretches that salary to about $132,273 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,044/month, or 13.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $114K get you in Kingsport-Bristol?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Kingsport-Bristol’s Regional Price Parity (86.45). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Kingsport-Bristol
Commercial pilots pay in Kingsport-Bristol tracks closely to the national median, $114K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 7% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,044/month, 14.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 86.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 14% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for commercial pilots in metros near Kingsport-Bristol, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $132K | $137K |
| Memphis | $122K | $133K |
| Knoxville | $123K | $133K |
| Chattanooga | $131K | $143K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $114K. Top earners bring in $198K or more, a $134K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Commercial Pilots salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $232K | +88% | 460 |
| New Jersey | $227K | +84% | 670 |
| New York | $177K | +44% | 1,070 |
| California | $166K | +34% | 4,900 |
| Delaware | $164K | +33% | 220 |
| Ohio | $150K | +22% | 2,680 |
| Georgia | $145K | +18% | 1,020 |
| Colorado | $140K | +13% | 1,240 |
| Texas | $138K | +12% | 4,120 |
| Vermont | $138K | +12% | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $134K | +9% | 530 |
| North Dakota | $133K | +8% | 370 |
| Maryland | $131K | +6% | 360 |
| Kentucky | $130K | +5% | 800 |
| Wisconsin | $130K | +5% | 1,090 |
| North Carolina | $127K | +3% | 1,520 |
| Michigan | $127K | +3% | 1,390 |
| Oklahoma | $126K | +2% | 540 |
| Illinois | $126K | +2% | 1,170 |
| Florida | $122K | -1% | 6,340 |
| Oregon | $121K | -2% | 670 |
| Washington | $118K | -4% | 890 |
| Maine | $118K | -5% | 100 |
| Tennessee | $117K | -5% | 1,030 |
| Hawaii | $113K | -8% | 350 |
| Idaho | $110K | -11% | 310 |
| West Virginia | $106K | -14% | 40 |
| South Carolina | $106K | -14% | 290 |
| Kansas | $105K | -14% | 680 |
| Nevada | $105K | -15% | 1,100 |
| Virginia | $105K | -15% | 1,130 |
| Nebraska | $105K | -15% | 290 |
| Indiana | $104K | -15% | 960 |
| Montana | $104K | -16% | 330 |
| Mississippi | $104K | -16% | 240 |
| Arizona | $103K | -16% | 1,540 |
| Missouri | $103K | -16% | 670 |
| Wyoming | $103K | -16% | 190 |
| Iowa | $102K | -17% | 300 |
| Alabama | $101K | -18% | 780 |
| Alaska | $100K | -19% | 1,000 |
| Utah | $100K | -19% | 540 |
| Rhode Island | $99K | -20% | 80 |
| Minnesota | $99K | -20% | 910 |
| New Mexico | $98K | -21% | 370 |
| Louisiana | $96K | -22% | 910 |
| Arkansas | $94K | -23% | 460 |
| South Dakota | $84K | -32% | 320 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Kingsport-Bristol numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Kingsport-Bristol?
Yes — at the median salary of $114K, rent takes 14.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,044/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Kingsport-Bristol?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,857/month. At HUD’s $1,044/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is commercial pilot a high-paying job in Kingsport-Bristol?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $114K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Kingsport-Bristol compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Kingsport-Bristol pays $114K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 86.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $132K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA?
The median is $114,350 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,290, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $198,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $114K enough to live in Kingsport-Bristol?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,403/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,044/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 Kingsport-Bristol?
Kingsport-Bristol has a Regional Price Parity of 86.45 (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 $132,273 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.