Commercial Pilots pay range in Grand Rapids
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,590 a year or less, while the top 10% make $216,050 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Grand Rapids earn between $122,660 and $168,740.
- $82K10th
- $123K25th
- $129KMedian
- $169K75th
- $216K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $147,860 | $12,322 | — |
| Median | $128,770 | $10,731 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $122,660 | $10,222 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $168,740 | $14,062 | — |
*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 Grand Rapids vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Grand Rapids earn 16% more than the Michigan average ($127,700) and about the same as the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | $147,860 | $128,770 | $81,590 | $216,050 | 100 |
| 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 Grand Rapids
On the average salary of $147,860, a single filer in Grand Rapids takes home about $104,160 a year, or $8,680 a month and $4,006 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Is Grand Rapids a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Grand Rapids area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $147,860 buys what about $154,753 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Grand Rapids ($47,570). A typical home costs $359,923, or 2.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other Michigan cities
Grand Rapids ranks 1st of 4 Michigan 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 Grand Rapids: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Grand Rapids?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $81,590 a year and the 25th percentile is $122,660, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Grand Rapids?
About $104,160 a year ($8,680 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $147,860. Includes Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
Do commercial pilots earn more in Grand Rapids than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI (24340). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.3%.
- 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 Grand Rapids's local income tax (1.5%).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.56, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.56).
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