Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in South Carolina make a median of $105,740 a year. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $165K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.17), which stretches that salary to about $113,491 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,263/month, or 18.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across South Carolina. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $106K get you in South Carolina?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in South Carolina
Pay for commercial pilots in South Carolina runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,263/month, 19.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.17 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, South Carolina can be a reasonable trade-off for commercial pilotss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, South Carolina
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $106K. Top earners bring in $165K or more, a $115K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in South Carolina
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer | $122K | +16% | 40 |
| Charleston-North Charleston | $119K | +13% | 50 |
| Columbia | $92K | -13% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when South Carolina numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in South Carolina?
Yes — at the median salary of $106K, rent takes 19.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,263/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in South Carolina?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,983/month. At HUD’s $1,263/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 South Carolina?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $106K here vs. $123K nationally. Cost of living is 7% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does South Carolina compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
South Carolina pays $106K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.17), the purchasing-power equivalent is $113K — below the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in South Carolina?
The median is $105,740 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,720, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $164,920. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $106K enough to live in South Carolina?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,470/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,263/month, which eats 19.5% 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 South Carolina?
South Carolina has a Regional Price Parity of 93.17 (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 $113,491 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.