Commercial Pilot salary in Pennsylvania
Commercial Pilots in Pennsylvania earn a median of $134,030 a year, based on BLS data for 530 workers.
Pay ranges from $74,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $263,290 for the top 10%. That is 9% higher than the national median of $123,220. Pennsylvania ranks 11th of 48 states for commercial pilots pay. There are 0.09 commercial pilots per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.29). The average (mean) salary is $151,950, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for commercial pilots in Pennsylvania
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $74,610 |
| 25th percentile | $96,780 |
| Median | $134,030 |
| 75th percentile | $200,910 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $263,290 |
| Average (mean) | $151,950 |
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 | $11,169.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,584.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,155 |
| Weekly | $2,577.50 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | $170,600 | 50 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $158,670 | 310 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $134,030 | 200 |
| Reading, PA | $133,240 | 40 |
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 Pennsylvania
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $39,520 | — |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $164,990 | — |
| Air Traffic Controller | $132,350 | $63.63 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $55,660 | $26.76 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,480 | $20.43 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $36,640 | $17.62 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $58,580 | $28.16 |
| Light Truck Driver | $44,120 | $21.21 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,730 | $22.95 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $61,460 | $29.55 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $47,530 | $22.85 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $36,960 | $17.77 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $37,330 | $17.95 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $34,230 | $16.46 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania?
The median salary for commercial pilots in Pennsylvania is $134,030 a year. Pay ranges from $74,610 for the lowest-paid 10% to $263,290 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid commercial pilots make in Pennsylvania?
The top 10% of commercial pilots in Pennsylvania earn at least $263,290 a year. The top 25% earn $200,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for commercial pilots in Pennsylvania?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $74,610 a year, and a quarter of commercial pilots earn $96,780 or less.
How many commercial pilots work in Pennsylvania?
About 530 commercial pilots are employed in Pennsylvania, not counting the self-employed.