Commercial Pilot salary in North Carolina
Commercial Pilots in North Carolina earn a median of $127,310 a year, based on BLS data for 1,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $61,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $243,090 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $123,220. North Carolina ranks 16th of 48 states for commercial pilots pay. There are 0.31 commercial pilots per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $138,680, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for commercial pilots in North Carolina
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $61,050 |
| 25th percentile | $79,670 |
| Median | $127,310 |
| 75th percentile | $175,900 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $243,090 |
| Average (mean) | $138,680 |
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 | $10,609.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,304.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,896.54 |
| Weekly | $2,448.27 |
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 North Carolina
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, NC | $172,320 | 40 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $144,750 | 430 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $137,180 | 40 |
| Greensboro-High Point, NC | $133,870 | 110 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $130,600 | 140 |
| Fayetteville, NC | $128,170 | 40 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $80,160 | 180 |
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 North Carolina
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $151,540 | — |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $45,820 | $22.03 |
| Air Traffic Controller | $129,230 | $62.13 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $35,950 | $17.29 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $51,530 | $24.77 |
| Light Truck Driver | $39,910 | $19.19 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $43,420 | $20.88 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $60,070 | $28.88 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,360 | $16.52 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $36,540 | $17.57 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $33,470 | $16.09 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $37,460 | $18.01 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $44,670 | $21.48 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in North Carolina
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 North Carolina?
The median salary for commercial pilots in North Carolina is $127,310 a year. Pay ranges from $61,050 for the lowest-paid 10% to $243,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid commercial pilots make in North Carolina?
The top 10% of commercial pilots in North Carolina earn at least $243,090 a year. The top 25% earn $175,900 or more.
What is the starting pay for commercial pilots in North Carolina?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $61,050 a year, and a quarter of commercial pilots earn $79,670 or less.
How many commercial pilots work in North Carolina?
About 1,520 commercial pilots are employed in North Carolina, not counting the self-employed.