What does a Commercial Pilots salary really buy you in Virginia?
Virginia is 2.1% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Virginia's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.1, meaning prices are 2.1% higher the national average. A Commercial Pilots earning $115,490 in Virginia has the equivalent purchasing power of $113,114 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Virginia's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $55,740 | $54,593 | $-1,146 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $78,560 | $76,944 | $-1,615 |
| Median (P50) | $115,490 | $113,114 | $-2,375 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $193,580 | $189,598 | $-3,981 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $226,420 | $221,762 | $-4,657 |
Virginia's cost of living is close to the national average, so $115,490 keeps most of its value at $113,114 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
Where does Commercial Pilots salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Virginia ranks #31 out of 49 states for Commercial Pilots after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Commercial Pilots in Virginia earns a median salary of $115,490 per year. After adjusting for Virginia's cost of living (RPP=102.1), the real purchasing power is $113,114 — a -2.1% difference.
Virginia's cost of living is 2.1% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Virginia is 102.1 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Commercial Pilots in Virginia: $115,490 x (100 / 102.1) = $113,114. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
Partially — a Commercial Pilots's nominal salary of $115,490 in Virginia has 2.1% less purchasing power due to higher living costs. The real value is $113,114. However, Virginia may offer better career opportunities, networking, and industry access.