Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Tennessee make a median of $117,480 a year. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $205K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 89.78), which stretches that salary to about $130,853 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,215/month, or 15.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Tennessee. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $117K get you in Tennessee?
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Tennessee
Commercial pilots pay in Tennessee tracks closely to the national median, $117K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,215/month, 16% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 89.78 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% 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, Tennessee
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $117K. Top earners bring in $205K or more, a $150K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in Tennessee
5 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin | $132K | +12% | 370 |
| Chattanooga | $131K | +11% | 40 |
| Knoxville | $123K | +5% | 80 |
| Memphis | $122K | +4% | 200 |
| Kingsport-Bristol | $114K | -3% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Tennessee numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Tennessee?
Yes — at the median salary of $117K, rent takes 16% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,215/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Tennessee?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,284/month. At HUD’s $1,215/month FMR, rent would take 37% 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 Tennessee?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $117K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Tennessee compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Tennessee pays $117K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 89.78), the purchasing-power equivalent is $131K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Tennessee?
The median is $117,480 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,740, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $204,650. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $117K enough to live in Tennessee?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,586/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,215/month, which eats 16% 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 Tennessee?
Tennessee has a Regional Price Parity of 89.78 (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 $130,853 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.