Commercial Pilots pay range in Detroit
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,700 a year or less, while the top 10% make $211,550 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Detroit earn between $85,130 and $171,770.
- $67K10th
- $85K25th
- $133KMedian
- $172K75th
- $212K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $132,400 | $11,033 | — |
| Median | $133,220 | $11,102 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $85,130 | $7,094 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $171,770 | $14,314 | — |
*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 Detroit vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Detroit earn 4% more than the Michigan average ($127,700) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is +8% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit | $132,400 | $133,220 | $66,700 | $211,550 | 410 |
| Michigan | $127,700 | $126,670 | $58,280 | $205,900 | 1,390 |
| 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 Detroit
On the average salary of $132,400, a single filer in Detroit takes home about $93,342 a year, or $7,779 a month and $3,590 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Is Detroit a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Detroit area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.3), so the average $132,400 buys what about $132,007 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.6 times the median wage of all jobs in Detroit ($52,080). A typical home costs $269,080, or 2.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other Michigan cities
Detroit ranks 3rd of 4 Michigan metro areas for this job; Grand Rapids pays the most ($147,860).
- Grand Rapids$147,860
- Lansing$134,340
- Detroit$132,400
- Ann Arbor$115,170
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 Detroit: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Detroit?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $66,700 a year and the 25th percentile is $85,130, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Detroit?
About $93,342 a year ($7,779 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $132,400. Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
Do commercial pilots earn more in Detroit than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% 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 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI (19820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.9%.
- 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). Includes Detroit's local income tax (2.4%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.70, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.70).
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