Commercial Pilot salary in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Commercial Pilots in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn a median of $99,350 a year, based on BLS data for 30 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,230 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $123,220. Pay here is 23% lower than the Wisconsin statewide median of $129,860. There are 0.37 commercial pilots per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $97,550, close to the median.
Pay range for commercial pilots in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,970 |
| 25th percentile | $81,790 |
| Median | $99,350 |
| 75th percentile | $99,360 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $115,230 |
| Average (mean) | $97,550 |
Half of commercial pilots earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,279.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,139.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,821.15 |
| Weekly | $1,910.58 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because commercial pilots are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $99,350 salary, see how much house you can afford in Wisconsin at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Commercial Pilot salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $177,730 | 420 |
| Fargo, ND-MN | $131,950 | 110 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $126,550 | 560 |
| Eau Claire, WI | $114,560 | 30 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | $112,100 | 110 |
| Grand Forks, ND-MN | $111,680 | 40 |
| Madison, WI | $109,740 | 90 |
| Oshkosh-Neenah, WI | $86,860 | 50 |
Highest-paying states for commercial pilots
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $232,160 |
| New Jersey | $226,710 |
| New York | $177,430 |
| California | $165,590 |
| Delaware | $163,600 |
| Ohio | $150,330 |
| Georgia | $145,100 |
| Colorado | $139,680 |
| Texas | $137,960 |
| Vermont | $137,810 |
See Commercial Pilot pay in every state or the Wisconsin statewide figures.
Related jobs in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,300 | $28.99 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $42,800 | $20.58 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $34,150 | $16.42 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,510 | $22.36 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $44,620 | $21.45 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $38,310 | $18.42 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $63,060 | $30.32 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $34,850 | $16.76 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $35,200 | $16.92 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $31,990 | $15.38 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $52,670 | $25.32 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Taxi Driver | $27,920 | $13.43 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors | $50,030 | $24.05 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-2012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a commercial pilot make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The median salary for commercial pilots in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area is $99,350 a year. Pay ranges from $80,970 for the lowest-paid 10% to $115,230 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid commercial pilots make in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
The top 10% of commercial pilots in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area earn at least $115,230 a year. The top 25% earn $99,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for commercial pilots in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,970 a year, and a quarter of commercial pilots earn $81,790 or less.
How many commercial pilots work in La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN?
About 30 commercial pilots are employed in the La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN metro area, not counting the self-employed.