Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How does Commercial Pilots salary grow from entry-level to senior? National salary progression based on 48 states with BLS data.
292% career growth potentialData: BLS OEWS 2025 • National averages across 48 states • Updated 2026-05-19
The salary range for Commercial Pilots spans from $60,398 at entry-level to $236,816 at senior level — a difference of $176,418 per year.
Senior Commercial Pilotss earn $176,418 more per year than entry-level professionals.
Complete percentile breakdown showing how Commercial Pilots salary increases with experience, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).
| Experience Level | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | P10 | $60,398 | $5,033 | $29.04 |
| Early Career | P25 | $84,954 | $7,080 | $40.84 |
| Mid-Career | Median | $122,580 | $10,215 | $58.93 |
| Experienced | P75 | $176,274 | $14,690 | $84.75 |
| Senior / Expert | P90 | $236,816 | $19,735 | $113.85 |
Commercial Pilots offers exceptional career salary growth. Professionals who advance from entry-level to senior can expect their salary to more than triple — from $60,398 to $236,816. This 292% growth potential makes it one of the highest-growth occupations in terms of pay progression. Investing in skills development and certifications can accelerate this trajectory.
Which states pay the highest senior-level salaries for Commercial Pilots? Top 10 states ranked by 90th percentile (senior) pay.
Entry-level Commercial Pilotss (10th percentile) earn approximately $60,398 per year, or $5,033 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $84,954. Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.
Senior Commercial Pilotss (90th percentile) earn approximately $236,816 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $176,274. This represents a career premium of 292% over entry-level pay.
The career salary growth potential for Commercial Pilotss is 292%. Entry-level professionals start at $60,398, while senior-level can earn up to $236,816 — a difference of $176,418 per year.
The highest-paying state for senior Commercial Pilotss is California, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $500,170 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.
We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025 data. The 10th percentile (P10) approximates entry-level pay — the salary that 90% of workers earn more than. The 90th percentile (P90) approximates senior/expert-level pay — only 10% of workers earn above this threshold. National averages are computed across all reporting U.S. states.
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Salary percentile data is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. National averages are computed across 48 states and the District of Columbia. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. Actual salaries vary based on location, employer, experience, education, and certifications.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS