Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in North Carolina make a median of $127,310 a year. The range runs from $61K at the entry level to $243K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 92.66), which stretches that salary to about $137,395 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,284/month, or 16.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $127K get you in North Carolina?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in North Carolina
Commercial pilots pay in North Carolina tracks closely to the national median, $127K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 3% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,284/month, 16.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 92.66 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, North Carolina
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $61K. Mid-career wages sit at $127K. Top earners bring in $243K or more, a $182K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in North Carolina
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | $172K | +35% | 40 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $145K | +14% | 430 |
| Winston-Salem | $137K | +8% | 40 |
| Greensboro-High Point | $134K | +5% | 110 |
| Raleigh-Cary | $131K | +3% | 140 |
| Fayetteville | $128K | +1% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $127K, rent takes 16.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,284/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in North Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $61K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,663/month. At HUD’s $1,284/month FMR, rent would take 35% 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 North Carolina?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $127K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 3% difference.
How does North Carolina compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
North Carolina pays $127K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +3%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 92.66), the purchasing-power equivalent is $137K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in North Carolina?
The median is $127,310 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $61,050, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $243,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $127K enough to live in North Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,670/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,284/month, which eats 16.7% 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 North Carolina?
North Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 92.66 (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 $137,395 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.