Commercial Pilots pay range in Champaign
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,580 a year or less, while the top 10% make $91,830 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Champaign earn between $63,950 and $72,250.
- $37K10th
- $64K25th
- $68KMedian
- $72K75th
- $92K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $75,760 | $6,313 | — |
| Median | $67,770 | $5,648 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $63,950 | $5,329 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $72,250 | $6,021 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Commercial Pilots pay in Champaign vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Champaign earn 52% less than the Illinois average ($157,600) and 48% less than the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is -45% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Champaign | $75,760 | $67,770 | $36,580 | $91,830 | 30 |
| Illinois | $157,600 | $126,100 | $51,890 | $376,830 | 1,170 |
| United States | $146,080 | $123,220 | $58,850 | $266,620 | 47,630 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Commercial Pilots salary after taxes in Champaign
On the average salary of $75,760, a single filer in Champaign takes home about $58,518 a year, or $4,877 a month and $2,251 every two weeks. Taxes take 23% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Champaign a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Champaign area are 7% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 92.7), so the average $75,760 buys what about $81,722 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Champaign ($50,700). A typical home costs $237,290, or 3.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other Illinois cities
Champaign ranks 3rd of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job; Chicago pays the most ($171,200).
Highest-paying cities for commercial pilots
Waterbury, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($267,680).
- Waterbury, CT$267,680
- Kiryas Joel, NY$226,850
- Bridgeport, CT$226,590
- Santa Rosa, CA$218,810
- Louisville, KY$210,350
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Commercial Pilots salary in Champaign: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Champaign?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $36,580 a year and the 25th percentile is $63,950, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Champaign?
About $58,518 a year ($4,877 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $75,760.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Champaign than elsewhere?
The average here is 48% less than the U.S. average for this job ($146,080).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-2012; area Champaign-Urbana, IL (16580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.06, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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