Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Missoula, MT make a median of $104,260 a year. The range runs from $86K at the entry level to $174K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.44), that's roughly $108,109 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,361/month, or 20.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $104K get you in Missoula?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Missoula’s Regional Price Parity (96.44). 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 Missoula
Pay for commercial pilots in Missoula runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,361/month, 21.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.44) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Missoula can be a reasonable trade-off for commercial pilotss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for commercial pilots in metros near Missoula, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Billings | $106K | $113K |
| Helena | $101K | $106K |
| Bozeman | $137K | $134K |
| Boise City | $131K | $133K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missoula, MT
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $86K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $174K or more, a $89K 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 |
| Wyoming | $103K | -16% | 190 |
| Missouri | $103K | -16% | 670 |
| 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 with published data
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 Missoula numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missoula?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 21.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,361/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Missoula?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $86K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,132/month. At HUD’s $1,361/month FMR, rent would take 27% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is commercial pilot a high-paying job in Missoula?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $104K here vs. $123K nationally.
How does Missoula compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Missoula pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.44), the purchasing-power equivalent is $108K — below the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Missoula, MT?
The median is $104,260 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $85,540, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $174,110. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Missoula?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,391/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,361/month, which eats 21.3% 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 Missoula?
Missoula has a Regional Price Parity of 96.44 (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 $108,109 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.