Commercial Pilots pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,750 a year or less, while the top 10% make $271,090 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Philadelphia earn between $124,180 and $198,380.
- $72K10th
- $124K25th
- $159KMedian
- $198K75th
- $271K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $157,600 | $13,133 | — |
| Median | $158,670 | $13,222 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $124,180 | $10,348 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $198,380 | $16,532 | — |
*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 Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Philadelphia earn 4% more than the Pennsylvania average ($151,950) and 8% more than the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is +29% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $157,600 | $158,670 | $71,750 | $271,090 | 310 |
| Pennsylvania | $151,950 | $134,030 | $74,610 | $263,290 | 530 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $157,600, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $114,147 a year, or $9,512 a month and $4,390 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $114,147 | $9,512 |
| Working in MD | $111,492 | $9,291 |
| Working in NJ | $111,136 | $9,261 |
| Working in DE | $109,815 | $9,151 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $157,600 buys what about $153,675 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.9 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 2.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 2nd of 4 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Allentown pays the most ($166,500).
- Allentown$166,500
- Philadelphia$157,600
- Reading$153,460
- Pittsburgh$147,180
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 Philadelphia: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $71,750 a year and the 25th percentile is $124,180, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $114,147 a year ($9,512 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $157,600. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 8% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.3%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.35, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.35).
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