Commercial Pilots pay range in Lafayette
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $162,850 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Lafayette earn between $46,790 and $111,180.
- $47K10th
- $47K25th
- $79KMedian
- $111K75th
- $163K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $94,530 | $7,878 | — |
| Median | $79,430 | $6,619 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,790 | $3,899 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $111,180 | $9,265 | — |
*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 Lafayette vs. Louisiana and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Lafayette earn 13% less than the Louisiana average ($109,200) and 35% less than the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is -36% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lafayette | $94,530 | $79,430 | $46,780 | $162,850 | 210 |
| Louisiana | $109,200 | $95,940 | $46,990 | $169,410 | 910 |
| 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 Lafayette
On the average salary of $94,530, a single filer in Lafayette takes home about $72,882 a year, or $6,074 a month and $2,803 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 (2026 rules).
Is Lafayette a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Lafayette area are 13% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 87.2), so the average $94,530 buys what about $108,395 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Lafayette ($41,780). A typical home costs $202,312, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other Louisiana cities
Lafayette ranks 5th of 6 Louisiana metro areas for this job; New Orleans pays the most ($132,650).
- New Orleans$132,650
- Houma$110,810
- Baton Rouge$104,480
- Lake Charles$101,420
- Lafayette$94,530
- Monroe$89,950
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 Lafayette: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Lafayette?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $46,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,790, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Lafayette?
About $72,882 a year ($6,074 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $94,530.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Lafayette than elsewhere?
The average here is 35% 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 Lafayette, LA (29180). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.90, this job is 3.9 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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