Commercial Pilots pay range in Buffalo
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,080 a year or less, while the top 10% make $273,680 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Buffalo earn between $109,430 and $232,990.
- $60K10th
- $109K25th
- $153KMedian
- $233K75th
- $274K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $161,860 | $13,488 | — |
| Median | $153,210 | $12,768 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $109,430 | $9,119 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $232,990 | $19,416 | — |
*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 Buffalo vs. New York and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Buffalo earn 12% less than the New York average ($184,580) and 11% more than the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is +24% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo | $161,860 | $153,210 | $60,080 | $273,680 | 50 |
| New York | $184,580 | $177,430 | $63,080 | $297,680 | 1,070 |
| 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 Buffalo
On the average salary of $161,860, a single filer in Buffalo takes home about $113,234 a year, or $9,436 a month and $4,355 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Is Buffalo a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Buffalo area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.8), so the average $161,860 buys what about $168,879 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Buffalo ($50,790). A typical home costs $288,316, or 1.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other New York cities
Buffalo ranks 3rd of 4 New York metro areas for this job; Kiryas Joel pays the most ($226,850).
- Kiryas Joel$226,850
- New York$204,770
- Buffalo$161,860
- Rochester$137,000
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 Buffalo: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Buffalo?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $60,080 a year and the 25th percentile is $109,430, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Buffalo?
About $113,234 a year ($9,436 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $161,860. New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Buffalo than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY (15380). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.4%.
- 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). New York City (up to 3.876%) and Yonkers income taxes are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.34, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.34).
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