Commercial Pilot salary in Alabama
Commercial Pilots in Alabama earn a median of $101,420 a year, based on BLS data for 780 workers.
Pay ranges from $57,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $163,100 for the top 10%. That is 18% lower than the national median of $123,220. Alabama ranks 40th of 48 states for commercial pilots pay. There are 0.37 commercial pilots per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $108,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for commercial pilots in Alabama
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,030 |
| 25th percentile | $86,500 |
| Median | $101,420 |
| 75th percentile | $133,520 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $163,100 |
| Average (mean) | $108,580 |
Half of commercial pilots earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,451.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,225.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,900.77 |
| Weekly | $1,950.38 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because commercial pilots are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Commercial Pilot salary in cities in Alabama
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile, AL | $137,960 | 50 |
| Birmingham, AL | $127,280 | 150 |
| Huntsville, AL | $101,540 | 60 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $95,870 | 50 |
| Montgomery, AL | $91,120 | 60 |
Highest-paying states for commercial pilots
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $232,160 |
| New Jersey | $226,710 |
| New York | $177,430 |
| California | $165,590 |
| Delaware | $163,600 |
| Ohio | $150,330 |
| Georgia | $145,100 |
| Colorado | $139,680 |
| Texas | $137,960 |
| Vermont | $137,810 |
Related jobs in Alabama
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $136,990 | — |
| Air Traffic Controller | $114,960 | $55.27 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $78,590 | $37.79 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $34,290 | $16.48 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $52,120 | $25.06 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $36,670 | $17.63 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $44,880 | $21.58 |
| Light Truck Driver | $38,490 | $18.50 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $59,780 | $28.74 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $17,630 | $8.48 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $31,770 | $15.28 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $29,360 | $14.11 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $39,190 | $18.84 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $46,240 | $22.23 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Alabama
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-2012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a commercial pilot make in Alabama?
The median salary for commercial pilots in Alabama is $101,420 a year. Pay ranges from $57,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $163,100 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid commercial pilots make in Alabama?
The top 10% of commercial pilots in Alabama earn at least $163,100 a year. The top 25% earn $133,520 or more.
What is the starting pay for commercial pilots in Alabama?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $57,030 a year, and a quarter of commercial pilots earn $86,500 or less.
How many commercial pilots work in Alabama?
About 780 commercial pilots are employed in Alabama, not counting the self-employed.