Commercial Pilot salary in Colorado
Commercial Pilots in Colorado earn a median of $139,680 a year, based on BLS data for 1,240 workers.
Pay ranges from $59,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $269,630 for the top 10%. That is 13% higher than the national median of $123,220. Colorado ranks 8th of 48 states for commercial pilots pay. There are 0.43 commercial pilots per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $152,820, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for commercial pilots in Colorado
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $59,780 |
| 25th percentile | $98,050 |
| Median | $139,680 |
| 75th percentile | $210,470 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $269,630 |
| Average (mean) | $152,820 |
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 | $11,640 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,820 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,372.31 |
| Weekly | $2,686.15 |
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 Colorado
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado Springs, CO | $167,310 | n/a |
| Boulder, CO | $165,780 | 40 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $145,210 | 30 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $132,810 | 710 |
| Greeley, CO | $106,150 | 30 |
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 Colorado
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $59,500 | — |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $307,490 | — |
| Air Traffic Controller | $177,380 | $85.28 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $77,500 | $37.26 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $42,350 | $20.36 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $45,370 | $21.81 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $61,500 | $29.57 |
| Light Truck Driver | $48,410 | $23.28 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,380 | $31.43 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $50,570 | $24.31 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $39,610 | $19.04 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $41,020 | $19.72 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $40,730 | $19.58 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Colorado
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 Colorado?
The median salary for commercial pilots in Colorado is $139,680 a year. Pay ranges from $59,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $269,630 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid commercial pilots make in Colorado?
The top 10% of commercial pilots in Colorado earn at least $269,630 a year. The top 25% earn $210,470 or more.
What is the starting pay for commercial pilots in Colorado?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $59,780 a year, and a quarter of commercial pilots earn $98,050 or less.
How many commercial pilots work in Colorado?
About 1,240 commercial pilots are employed in Colorado, not counting the self-employed.