Commercial Pilots pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,890 a year or less, while the top 10% make $376,830 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Chicago earn between $72,090 and $227,840.
- $52K10th
- $72K25th
- $157KMedian
- $228K75th
- $377K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $171,200 | $14,267 | — |
| Median | $157,420 | $13,118 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $72,090 | $6,008 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $227,840 | $18,987 | — |
*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 Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Chicago earn 9% more than the Illinois average ($157,600) and 17% more than the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is +28% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $171,200 | $157,420 | $51,890 | $376,830 | 840 |
| 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 Chicago
On the average salary of $171,200, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $119,948 a year, or $9,996 a month and $4,613 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $123,175 | $10,265 |
| Working in IL | $119,948 | $9,996 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $171,200 buys what about $165,259 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other Illinois cities
Chicago ranks 1st of 3 Illinois metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
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 Chicago: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $51,890 a year and the 25th percentile is $72,090, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Chicago?
About $119,948 a year ($9,996 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $171,200.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 17% more 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 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 12.6%.
- 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 0.61, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.61).
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