Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in New Jersey make a median of $226,710 a year. The range runs from $53K at the entry level to $327K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 99.34), that's roughly $228,216 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,067/month, or 15.8% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New Jersey. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $227K get you in New Jersey?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in New Jersey
New Jersey sits well above the national pay line for commercial pilots, local pay runs about 84% higher than the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,067/month, 16% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 99.34) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, New Jersey offers a genuinely strong financial position for commercial pilotss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New Jersey
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $53K. Mid-career wages sit at $227K. Top earners bring in $327K or more, a $274K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in New Jersey
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton-Princeton | $206K | -9% | 50 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New Jersey numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in New Jersey?
Yes — at the median salary of $227K, rent takes 16% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,067/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in New Jersey?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $53K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,154/month. At HUD’s $2,067/month FMR, rent would take 66% 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 New Jersey?
Local pay is 84% above the national median — $227K here vs. $123K nationally.
How does New Jersey compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
New Jersey pays $227K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +84%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 99.34), the purchasing-power equivalent is $228K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in New Jersey?
The median is $226,710 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $52,560, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $326,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $227K enough to live in New Jersey?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $12,928/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,067/month, which eats 16% 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 New Jersey?
New Jersey has a Regional Price Parity of 99.34 (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 $228,216 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.