Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Maryland make a median of $131,210 a year. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $229K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.76), that's roughly $132,857 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,795/month, or 23.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maryland. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $131K get you in Maryland?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Maryland
Commercial pilots pay in Maryland tracks closely to the national median, $131K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 6% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,795/month, 22.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.76) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maryland
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K. Top earners bring in $229K or more, a $171K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Maryland
2 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park | $172K | +31% | 60 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $130K | -1% | 140 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maryland numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maryland?
Yes — at the median salary of $131K, rent takes 22.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,795/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Maryland?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,484/month. At HUD’s $1,795/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Maryland?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $131K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 6% difference.
How does Maryland compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Maryland pays $131K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +6%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.76), the purchasing-power equivalent is $133K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Maryland?
The median is $131,210 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,070, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $229,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in Maryland?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,858/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,795/month, which eats 22.8% 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 Maryland?
Maryland has a Regional Price Parity of 98.76 (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 $132,857 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.