Commercial Pilots pay range in Helena
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,490 a year or less, while the top 10% make $228,130 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Helena earn between $75,860 and $129,630.
- $48K10th
- $76K25th
- $101KMedian
- $130K75th
- $228K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $117,320 | $9,777 | — |
| Median | $100,940 | $8,412 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $75,860 | $6,322 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $129,630 | $10,802 | — |
*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 Helena vs. Montana and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Helena earn 8% less than the Montana average ($128,170) and 20% less than the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is -18% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | $117,320 | $100,940 | $48,490 | $228,130 | 50 |
| Montana | $128,170 | $103,690 | $73,440 | $226,770 | 330 |
| 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 Helena
On the average salary of $117,320, a single filer in Helena takes home about $86,097 a year, or $7,175 a month and $3,311 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Helena a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Helena area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.7), so the average $117,320 buys what about $122,623 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Helena ($55,040). A typical home costs $477,996, or 4.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other Montana cities
Helena ranks 3rd of 4 Montana metro areas for this job; Bozeman pays the most ($166,310).
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 Helena: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Helena?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $48,490 a year and the 25th percentile is $75,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Helena?
About $86,097 a year ($7,175 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $117,320.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Helena than elsewhere?
The average here is 20% 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 Helena, MT (25740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.7%.
- 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 3.31, this job is 3.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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