Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Missouri make a median of $102,990 a year. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $212K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $115,758 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 16.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $103K get you in Missouri?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for commercial pilots in Missouri runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,097/month, 17.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Missouri can be a reasonable trade-off for commercial pilotss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $103K. Top earners bring in $212K or more, a $161K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Missouri
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $131K | +27% | 200 |
| Springfield | $114K | +11% | 50 |
| St. Louis | $92K | -11% | 380 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $103K, rent takes 17.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,047/month. At HUD’s $1,097/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 Missouri?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $103K here vs. $123K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Missouri pays $103K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $116K — below the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Missouri?
The median is $102,990 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,790, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $212,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $103K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,393/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 17.2% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $115,758 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.