Commercial Pilot salary in Maryland
Commercial Pilots in Maryland earn a median of $131,210 a year, based on BLS data for 360 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $229,430 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $123,220. Maryland ranks 13th of 48 states for commercial pilots pay. There are 0.13 commercial pilots per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.42). The average (mean) salary is $138,530, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for commercial pilots in Maryland
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,070 |
| 25th percentile | $81,620 |
| Median | $131,210 |
| 75th percentile | $173,790 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $229,430 |
| Average (mean) | $138,530 |
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 | $10,934.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,467.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,046.54 |
| Weekly | $2,523.27 |
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 Maryland
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | $171,560 | 60 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $158,670 | 310 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $129,850 | 140 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $125,850 | 510 |
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 Maryland
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Air Traffic Controller | $131,290 | $63.12 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $41,600 | $20.00 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,690 | $18.12 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,360 | $28.54 |
| Light Truck Driver | $48,150 | $23.15 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $45,630 | $21.94 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $74,070 | $35.61 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,500 | $18.51 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $56,450 | $27.14 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $36,390 | $17.49 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $39,750 | $19.11 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $65,220 | $31.35 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $35,860 | $17.24 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $41,870 | $20.13 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Maryland
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 Maryland?
The median salary for commercial pilots in Maryland is $131,210 a year. Pay ranges from $58,070 for the lowest-paid 10% to $229,430 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid commercial pilots make in Maryland?
The top 10% of commercial pilots in Maryland earn at least $229,430 a year. The top 25% earn $173,790 or more.
What is the starting pay for commercial pilots in Maryland?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,070 a year, and a quarter of commercial pilots earn $81,620 or less.
How many commercial pilots work in Maryland?
About 360 commercial pilots are employed in Maryland, not counting the self-employed.