Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Michigan make a median of $126,670 a year. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $206K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.89), which stretches that salary to about $134,913 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 16.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Michigan. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $127K get you in Michigan?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Michigan
Commercial pilots pay in Michigan tracks closely to the national median, $127K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,272/month, 16.6% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 6% 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, Michigan
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $206K or more, a $148K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Michigan
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $133K | +5% | 410 |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $129K | +2% | 100 |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $129K | +1% | 30 |
| Ann Arbor | $126K | -0% | 530 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Michigan numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Michigan?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 16.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Michigan?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,497/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 36% 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 Michigan?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $127K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does Michigan compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Michigan pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $135K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Michigan?
The median is $126,670 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,280, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $205,900. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in Michigan?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,662/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 16.6% 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 Michigan?
Michigan has a Regional Price Parity of 93.89 (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 $134,913 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.