Commercial Pilots pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,310 a year or less, while the top 10% make $259,570 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Washington earn between $93,460 and $192,550.
- $75K10th
- $93K25th
- $126KMedian
- $193K75th
- $260K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $148,260 | $12,355 | — |
| Median | $125,850 | $10,488 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $93,460 | $7,788 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $192,550 | $16,046 | — |
*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 Washington vs. Washington, D.C. and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Washington earn about the same as the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is +2% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $148,260 | $125,850 | $75,310 | $259,570 | 510 |
| 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 Washington
On the average salary of $148,260, a single filer in Washington takes home about $102,968 a year, or $8,581 a month and $3,960 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $106,700 | $8,892 |
| Working in MD | $105,609 | $8,801 |
| Working in VA | $104,891 | $8,741 |
| Working in DC | $102,968 | $8,581 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $148,260 buys what about $136,163 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 3.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$138,060
- Lexington Park, MD$179,850
- Richmond, VA$137,100
- Reading, PA$153,460
- Philadelphia, PA$157,600
- Virginia Beach, VA$105,720
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 Washington: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $75,310 a year and the 25th percentile is $93,460, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Washington?
About $102,968 a year ($8,581 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $148,260.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Washington 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.0%.
- 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 0.53, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.53).
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