Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in New York make a median of $177,430 a year. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $298K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $180,664 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,917/month, or 18.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $177K get you in New York?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in New York
New York sits well above the national pay line for commercial pilots, local pay runs about 44% higher than the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,917/month, 18.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, New York offers a genuinely strong financial position for commercial pilotss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $177K. Top earners bring in $298K or more, a $235K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in New York
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh | $281K | +58% | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $226K | +27% | 1,210 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga | $153K | -14% | 50 |
| Rochester | $129K | -27% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
Yes — at the median salary of $177K, rent takes 18.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in New York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $63K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,785/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 York?
Local pay is 44% above the national median — $177K here vs. $123K nationally.
How does New York compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
New York pays $177K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +44%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $181K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in New York?
The median is $177,430 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,080, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $297,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $177K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,209/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 18.8% 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 New York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (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 $180,664 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.