Commercial Pilots pay range in Chattanooga
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $84,500 a year or less, while the top 10% make $205,730 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Chattanooga earn between $96,880 and $159,260.
- $84K10th
- $97K25th
- $131KMedian
- $159K75th
- $206K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $140,930 | $11,744 | — |
| Median | $130,630 | $10,886 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $96,880 | $8,073 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $159,260 | $13,272 | — |
*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 Chattanooga vs. Tennessee and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Chattanooga earn 12% more than the Tennessee average ($126,190) and 4% less than 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chattanooga | $140,930 | $130,630 | $84,500 | $205,730 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $126,190 | $117,480 | $54,740 | $204,650 | 1,030 |
| 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 Chattanooga
On the average salary of $140,930, a single filer in Chattanooga takes home about $107,592 a year, or $8,966 a month and $4,138 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
The Chattanooga, TN-GA metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in TN | $107,592 | $8,966 |
| Working in GA | $101,308 | $8,442 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Chattanooga a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chattanooga area are 9% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 91.5), so the average $140,930 buys what about $154,082 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Chattanooga ($46,700). A typical home costs $326,370, or 2.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other Tennessee cities
Chattanooga ranks 1st of 5 Tennessee 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 Chattanooga: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Chattanooga?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $84,500 a year and the 25th percentile is $96,880, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Chattanooga?
About $107,592 a year ($8,966 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $140,930. Tennessee has no state income tax.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Chattanooga than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% 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 Chattanooga, TN-GA (16860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.5%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.47, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.47).
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