Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Montana make a median of $103,690 a year. The range runs from $73K at the entry level to $227K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97), that's roughly $106,897 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,129/month, or 17.2% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Montana. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $104K get you in Montana?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Montana
Pay for commercial pilots in Montana runs about 16% below the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,129/month, 17.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 97) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Montana can be a reasonable trade-off for commercial pilotss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Montana
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $73K. Mid-career wages sit at $104K. Top earners bring in $227K or more, a $153K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Montana
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman | $137K | +33% | 40 |
| Billings | $106K | +2% | 50 |
| Missoula | $104K | +1% | 40 |
| Helena | $101K | -3% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Montana numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Montana?
Yes — at the median salary of $104K, rent takes 17.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,129/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Montana?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $73K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,406/month. At HUD’s $1,129/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is commercial pilot a high-paying job in Montana?
Local pay runs 16% below the national median — $104K here vs. $123K nationally.
How does Montana compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Montana pays $104K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -16%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $107K — below the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Montana?
The median is $103,690 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $73,440, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $226,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $104K enough to live in Montana?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,360/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,129/month, which eats 17.8% 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 Montana?
Montana has a Regional Price Parity of 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 $106,897 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.