Commercial Pilot salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Commercial Pilots in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median of $126,550 a year, based on BLS data for 560 workers.
Pay ranges from $45,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $311,940 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $123,220. Pay here is 28% higher than the Minnesota statewide median of $98,630. There are 0.28 commercial pilots per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $136,710, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for commercial pilots in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,870 |
| 25th percentile | $64,850 |
| Median | $126,550 |
| 75th percentile | $189,250 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $311,940 |
| Average (mean) | $136,710 |
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 | $10,545.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,272.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,867.31 |
| Weekly | $2,433.65 |
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 $126,550 salary, see how much house you can afford in Minnesota 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 |
| 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 |
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $99,350 | 30 |
| 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 Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $61,230 | — |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $211,470 | — |
| Air Traffic Controller | $179,670 | $86.38 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $47,320 | $22.75 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $37,440 | $18.00 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,200 | $30.87 |
| Light Truck Driver | $49,670 | $23.88 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $50,240 | $24.16 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $32,980 | $15.86 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $72,140 | $34.68 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $49,740 | $23.91 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $42,280 | $20.33 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $39,890 | $19.18 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $38,130 | $18.33 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The median salary for commercial pilots in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $126,550 a year. Pay ranges from $45,870 for the lowest-paid 10% to $311,940 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid commercial pilots make in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The top 10% of commercial pilots in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn at least $311,940 a year. The top 25% earn $189,250 or more.
What is the starting pay for commercial pilots in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $45,870 a year, and a quarter of commercial pilots earn $64,850 or less.
How many commercial pilots work in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
About 560 commercial pilots are employed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.