Commercial Pilot salary in Washington
Commercial Pilots in Washington earn a median of $117,730 a year, based on BLS data for 890 workers.
Pay ranges from $70,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $314,200 for the top 10%. That is 4% lower than the national median of $123,220. Washington ranks 22nd of 48 states for commercial pilots pay. There are 0.25 commercial pilots per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $149,860, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for commercial pilots in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $70,420 |
| 25th percentile | $84,540 |
| Median | $117,730 |
| 75th percentile | $200,480 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $314,200 |
| Average (mean) | $149,860 |
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 | $9,810.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,905.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,528.08 |
| Weekly | $2,264.04 |
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 Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $126,990 | 500 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $111,170 | 60 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $105,910 | 300 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $229,900 | — |
| Air Traffic Controller | $162,570 | $78.16 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $84,050 | $40.41 |
| Flight Attendant | $74,090 | — |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $44,620 | $21.45 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $46,190 | $22.21 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,760 | $31.13 |
| Light Truck Driver | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,910 | $24.00 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $74,250 | $35.70 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $39,220 | $18.86 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $63,370 | $30.47 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $40,070 | $19.26 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $72,280 | $34.75 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for commercial pilots in Washington is $117,730 a year. Pay ranges from $70,420 for the lowest-paid 10% to $314,200 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid commercial pilots make in Washington?
The top 10% of commercial pilots in Washington earn at least $314,200 a year. The top 25% earn $200,480 or more.
What is the starting pay for commercial pilots in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $70,420 a year, and a quarter of commercial pilots earn $84,540 or less.
How many commercial pilots work in Washington?
About 890 commercial pilots are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.