Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in North Dakota make a median of $133,010 a year. The range runs from $66K at the entry level to $237K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.89), which stretches that salary to about $149,634 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,034/month, or 12.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across North Dakota. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $133K get you in North Dakota?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in North Dakota
Commercial pilots pay in North Dakota tracks closely to the national median, $133K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 8% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,034/month, 12.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.89 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% 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 Dakota
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $66K. Mid-career wages sit at $133K. Top earners bring in $237K or more, a $171K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in North Dakota
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bismarck | $138K | +3% | 80 |
| Fargo | $132K | -1% | 110 |
| Grand Forks | $112K | -16% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when North Dakota numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in North Dakota?
Yes — at the median salary of $133K, rent takes 12.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,034/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in North Dakota?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $66K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,938/month. At HUD’s $1,034/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is commercial pilot a high-paying job in North Dakota?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $133K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 8% difference.
How does North Dakota compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
North Dakota pays $133K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +8%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.89), the purchasing-power equivalent is $150K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in North Dakota?
The median is $133,010 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $65,630, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $237,050. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $133K enough to live in North Dakota?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,256/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,034/month, which eats 12.5% 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 Dakota?
North Dakota has a Regional Price Parity of 88.89 (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 $149,634 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.