Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Ohio make a median of $150,330 a year. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $219K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $164,385 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 13% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $150K get you in Ohio?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Ohio
Ohio sits well above the national pay line for commercial pilots, local pay runs about 22% higher than the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 13% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Ohio offers a genuinely strong financial position for commercial pilotss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $150K. Top earners bring in $219K or more, a $159K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Ohio
6 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus | $176K | +17% | 1,410 |
| Cleveland | $167K | +11% | 600 |
| Cincinnati | $130K | -13% | 190 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $121K | -20% | 70 |
| Akron | $84K | -44% | 80 |
| Toledo | $61K | -59% | 100 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $150K, rent takes 13% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $60K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,618/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 33% 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 Ohio?
Local pay is 22% above the national median — $150K here vs. $123K nationally.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Ohio pays $150K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $164K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Ohio?
The median is $150,330 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $60,300, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $219,140. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $150K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,139/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 13% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $164,385 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.