Commercial Pilots pay range in Raleigh
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $264,180 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Raleigh earn between $79,210 and $206,120.
- $64K10th
- $79K25th
- $131KMedian
- $206K75th
- $264K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $147,260 | $12,272 | — |
| Median | $130,600 | $10,883 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $79,210 | $6,601 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $206,120 | $17,177 | — |
*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 Raleigh vs. North Carolina and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Raleigh earn 6% more than the North Carolina average ($138,680) and about the same as the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is +6% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | $147,260 | $130,600 | $63,860 | $264,180 | 140 |
| North Carolina | $138,680 | $127,310 | $61,050 | $243,090 | 1,520 |
| 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 Raleigh
On the average salary of $147,260, a single filer in Raleigh takes home about $106,551 a year, or $8,879 a month and $4,098 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Raleigh a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Raleigh area are 2% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.2), so the average $147,260 buys what about $150,025 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Raleigh ($51,990). A typical home costs $438,364, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other North Carolina cities
Raleigh ranks 3rd of 6 North Carolina metro areas for this job; Wilmington pays the most ($162,700).
- Wilmington$162,700
- Charlotte$162,670
- Raleigh$147,260
- Greensboro$138,240
- Winston-Salem$135,980
- Fayetteville$127,260
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 Raleigh: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Raleigh?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $63,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $79,210, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Raleigh?
About $106,551 a year ($8,879 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $147,260.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Raleigh 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC (39580). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 12.9%.
- 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 (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.63, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.63).
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