US commercial pilots had a median annual wage of $123,220 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. The figure is a survey estimate for May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. It is not an average of calendar-2025 paychecks, and it describes commercial pilots as a separate occupation from airline pilots, whose May 2025 median BLS reports at $232,140.
What the May 2025 figure measures
The number comes from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. OEWS surveys employers and produces wage estimates for a reference month, here May 2025. Three details shape how the number should be read.
- Median, not average. The median is the midpoint: BLS’s Occupational Outlook Handbook defines it as the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more and half earned less. The national OEWS table also reports means, which are a different statistic, so avoid calling $123,220 an “average” salary.
- Straight-time gross pay. BLS describes OEWS wages as straight-time gross pay, excluding premium pay such as overtime and shift differentials. It is not a total-compensation figure and does not account for benefits.
- Annualized for part-year or part-time patterns. For occupations that do not generally work year-round, full time, BLS converts hourly and partial-year pay to an annual figure using a 2,080-hour convention. BLS’s OEWS discussion names pilots among the occupations where this applies. The figure therefore should not be read as a guaranteed contract salary, and it does not mean every pilot works 2,080 paid hours.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook page for airline and commercial pilots was last modified on August 27, 2026, so it reflects the most recent BLS publication cycle for these categories.
How wages are spread across commercial pilots
A single median hides a wide range. BLS’s May 2025 distribution for commercial pilots shows how far pay spreads from the midpoint.
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| Position in the wage distribution | May 2025 annual wage | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10 percent | Below $58,850 | Pay at the bottom of the occupation’s range; this is a threshold, not an entry-level salary. |
| Median (50th percentile) | $123,220 | Half earned more, half earned less. |
| Highest 10 percent | Above $266,620 | Pay at the top of the range; this is a threshold, not a senior-level promise. |
The gap between the bottom and top 10 percent is more than $200,000, which signals that role, employer, hours, and qualifications vary considerably inside one occupation title.
Pay varies by industry
BLS also publishes median wages for commercial pilots within selected industries. These are descriptive estimates for the industries listed, not a complete ranking of every employer and not a pay scale for any job.
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| Industry (commercial pilots only) | May 2025 median annual wage |
|---|---|
| Nonscheduled air transportation | $133,150 (highest of the selected industries) |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | $129,610 |
| Support activities for air transportation | $123,090 |
| Other ambulatory healthcare services | $100,330 |
| Private technical and trade schools | $93,820 (lowest of the selected industries) |
The industry spread (about $39,300 between the highest and lowest selected medians) is narrower than the occupation-wide spread, which means employer type explains only part of the variation.
Why airline pilots are reported separately
Many searches for pilot pay are really about airline jobs, so the two occupation groups are easy to confuse. BLS reports them separately, and the difference is large.
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| Occupation group | May 2025 median annual wage | Employment in May 2025 (national OEWS) |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial pilots | $123,220 | About 47,630 jobs |
| Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers | $232,140 | About 103,560 jobs |
BLS also reports airline-pilot medians by industry. These are listed for context only and belong under the airline-pilot category:
- Couriers and express delivery services: $334,930
- Scheduled air transportation: $293,240
- Support activities for transportation: $202,680
- Federal government, excluding postal service: $141,140
The Occupational Outlook Handbook notes that airline pilots may receive an expense allowance, often called a per diem, for hours away from home, and may earn extra pay for international flights. It also describes seniority-based progression and benefits at airlines. These features are tied to airline employment. The cited BLS profile does not establish that every commercial pilot receives the same allowances, benefits, or seniority progression.
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What commercial pilots do
BLS describes commercial pilots as flying for compensation or hire in work that can include firefighting and crop dusting, among other operations. That range explains why the occupation’s pay and industry mix look different from the airline category. Commercial pilots work across many sectors rather than in one airline-dominated labor market.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Location changes the answer
The national median does not tell you what a pilot earns in a particular state or metropolitan area. For a location-specific estimate, use BLS state and area OEWS data for the same May 2025 reference period. Those tables give local medians and are the appropriate basis for comparing a state or city with the national figure.
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Employment outlook, kept separate from pay
BLS employment projections estimate that commercial-pilot employment will grow 5 percent from 2025 to 2035, adding about 2,600 jobs. BLS also projects roughly 16,400 openings per year for airline and commercial pilots combined. These are employment projections. They do not forecast wages, and they should not be used to suggest that pay will rise at the same rate.
How to cite the figure correctly
- Write “$123,220 median annual wage for commercial pilots, May 2025 (BLS).” Include the reference month.
- Describe the number as a median, and do not call it an average.
- Keep airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in their own category.
- Do not present the figure as a job offer, a contract salary, or a total-compensation estimate.
- For a state or city, use BLS area data instead of the national median.
Used this way, the May 2025 BLS figures give a clear, sourced picture of commercial-pilot pay in the United States without turning a survey statistic into a promise about any individual job.
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