Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Pennsylvania make a median of $134,030 a year. The range runs from $75K at the entry level to $263K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $141,129 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,351/month, or 16.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $134K get you in Pennsylvania?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Commercial pilots pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $134K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,351/month, 16.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $75K. Mid-career wages sit at $134K. Top earners bring in $263K or more, a $189K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Pennsylvania
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $171K | +27% | 50 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $159K | +18% | 310 |
| Pittsburgh | $134K | +0% | 200 |
| Reading | $133K | -1% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
Yes — at the median salary of $134K, rent takes 16.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $75K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,477/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is commercial pilot a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $134K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Pennsylvania pays $134K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $141K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $134,030 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $74,610, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $263,290. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $134K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,187/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 16.5% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $141,129 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.