Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Minnesota make a median of $98,630 a year. The range runs from $43K at the entry level to $262K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.6), which stretches that salary to about $106,512 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,384/month, or 22.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Minnesota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $99K get you in Minnesota?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Minnesota
Pay for commercial pilots in Minnesota runs about 20% below the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,384/month, 22.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.6 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Minnesota can be a reasonable trade-off for commercial pilotss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Minnesota
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $43K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $262K or more, a $219K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Minnesota
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington | $127K | +28% | 560 |
Compare to other states
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Minnesota numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Minnesota?
Yes — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 22.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,384/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Minnesota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $43K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,560/month. At HUD’s $1,384/month FMR, rent would take 54% 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 Minnesota?
Local pay runs 20% below the national median — $99K here vs. $123K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Minnesota compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Minnesota pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — below the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Minnesota?
The median is $98,630 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $42,670, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $261,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in Minnesota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,041/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,384/month, which eats 22.9% 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 Minnesota?
Minnesota has a Regional Price Parity of 92.6 (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 $106,512 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.