Commercial Pilot salary in Kentucky
Commercial Pilots in Kentucky earn a median of $129,990 a year, based on BLS data for 800 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $355,390 for the top 10%. That is 5% higher than the national median of $123,220. Kentucky ranks 14th of 48 states for commercial pilots pay. There are 0.40 commercial pilots per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $168,100, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for commercial pilots in Kentucky
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,130 |
| 25th percentile | $91,570 |
| Median | $129,990 |
| 75th percentile | $193,940 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $355,390 |
| Average (mean) | $168,100 |
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 | $10,832.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,416.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,999.62 |
| Weekly | $2,499.81 |
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 Kentucky
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $193,940 | 430 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $130,230 | 190 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | $111,030 | 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 Kentucky
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $350,950 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $123,290 | $59.27 |
| Air Traffic Controller | $127,800 | $61.44 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,770 | $20.56 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,810 | $17.70 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,340 | $27.09 |
| Light Truck Driver | $43,230 | $20.78 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $46,630 | $22.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,090 | $28.89 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $44,830 | $21.55 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $37,030 | $17.80 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,850 | $17.72 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $34,470 | $16.57 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $33,580 | $16.14 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Kentucky
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 Kentucky?
The median salary for commercial pilots in Kentucky is $129,990 a year. Pay ranges from $83,130 for the lowest-paid 10% to $355,390 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid commercial pilots make in Kentucky?
The top 10% of commercial pilots in Kentucky earn at least $355,390 a year. The top 25% earn $193,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for commercial pilots in Kentucky?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,130 a year, and a quarter of commercial pilots earn $91,570 or less.
How many commercial pilots work in Kentucky?
About 800 commercial pilots are employed in Kentucky, not counting the self-employed.