Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in Topeka, KS make a median of $104,530 a year. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $208K for experienced workers.
So what does $105K get you in Topeka?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Topeka’s Regional Price Parity (88.8). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About commercial pilots
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What this looks like in Topeka
Pay for commercial pilots in Topeka runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $123K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $925/month, 14.5% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.8 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Topeka can be a reasonable trade-off for commercial pilotss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for commercial pilots in metros near Topeka, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita | $106K | , |
| Colorado Springs | $167K | , |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial | $133K | , |
| St. Louis | $92K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Topeka, KS
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $105K. Top earners bring in $208K or more, a $158K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Commercial Pilots salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $232K | +88% | 460 |
| New Jersey | $227K | +84% | 670 |
| New York | $177K | +44% | 1,070 |
| California | $166K | +34% | 4,900 |
| Delaware | $164K | +33% | 220 |
| Ohio | $150K | +22% | 2,680 |
| Georgia | $145K | +18% | 1,020 |
| Colorado | $140K | +13% | 1,240 |
| Texas | $138K | +12% | 4,120 |
| Vermont | $138K | +12% | 40 |
| Pennsylvania | $134K | +9% | 530 |
| North Dakota | $133K | +8% | 370 |
| Maryland | $131K | +6% | 360 |
| Kentucky | $130K | +5% | 800 |
| Wisconsin | $130K | +5% | 1,090 |
| North Carolina | $127K | +3% | 1,520 |
| Michigan | $127K | +3% | 1,390 |
| Oklahoma | $126K | +2% | 540 |
| Illinois | $126K | +2% | 1,170 |
| Florida | $122K | -1% | 6,340 |
| Oregon | $121K | -2% | 670 |
| Washington | $118K | -4% | 890 |
| Maine | $118K | -5% | 100 |
| Tennessee | $117K | -5% | 1,030 |
| Hawaii | $113K | -8% | 350 |
| Idaho | $110K | -11% | 310 |
| West Virginia | $106K | -14% | 40 |
| South Carolina | $106K | -14% | 290 |
| Kansas | $105K | -14% | 680 |
| Nevada | $105K | -15% | 1,100 |
| Virginia | $105K | -15% | 1,130 |
| Nebraska | $105K | -15% | 290 |
| Indiana | $104K | -15% | 960 |
| Montana | $104K | -16% | 330 |
| Mississippi | $104K | -16% | 240 |
| Arizona | $103K | -16% | 1,540 |
| Missouri | $103K | -16% | 670 |
| Wyoming | $103K | -16% | 190 |
| Iowa | $102K | -17% | 300 |
| Alabama | $101K | -18% | 780 |
| Alaska | $100K | -19% | 1,000 |
| Utah | $100K | -19% | 540 |
| Rhode Island | $99K | -20% | 80 |
| Minnesota | $99K | -20% | 910 |
| New Mexico | $98K | -21% | 370 |
| Louisiana | $96K | -22% | 910 |
| Arkansas | $94K | -23% | 460 |
| South Dakota | $84K | -32% | 320 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Topeka numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in Topeka?
Yes — at the median salary of $105K, rent takes 14.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $925/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in Topeka?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,974/month. At HUD’s $925/month FMR, rent would take 31% 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 Topeka?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $105K here vs. $123K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Topeka compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
Topeka pays $105K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.8), the purchasing-power equivalent is $118K — below the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in Topeka, KS?
The median is $104,530 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,560, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $207,760. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $105K enough to live in Topeka?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,385/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $925/month, which eats 14.5% 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 Topeka?
Topeka has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median commercial pilots salary is worth about $117,714 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.