Commercial Pilot salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Commercial Pilots in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $126,990 a year, based on BLS data for 500 workers.
Pay ranges from $81,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $317,970 for the top 10%. That is 3% higher than the national median of $123,220. Pay here is 8% higher than the Washington statewide median of $117,730. There are 0.24 commercial pilots per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.79). The average (mean) salary is $180,290, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for commercial pilots in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $81,780 |
| 25th percentile | $95,870 |
| Median | $126,990 |
| 75th percentile | $290,150 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $317,970 |
| Average (mean) | $180,290 |
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 | $10,582.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,291.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,884.23 |
| Weekly | $2,442.12 |
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 $126,990 salary, see how much house you can afford in Washington 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA | $111,170 | 60 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $105,910 | 300 |
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 Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $229,900 | — |
| Air Traffic Controller | $175,280 | $84.27 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $84,050 | $40.41 |
| Flight Attendant | $75,100 | — |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $46,830 | $22.52 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $47,740 | $22.95 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $71,240 | $34.25 |
| Light Truck Driver | $49,590 | $23.84 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $55,600 | $26.73 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $76,390 | $36.73 |
| Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity | $83,430 | $40.11 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $44,010 | $21.16 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $42,750 | $20.56 |
| Bus Drivers, School | $66,380 | $31.91 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for commercial pilots in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $126,990 a year. Pay ranges from $81,780 for the lowest-paid 10% to $317,970 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid commercial pilots make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of commercial pilots in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $317,970 a year. The top 25% earn $290,150 or more.
What is the starting pay for commercial pilots in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $81,780 a year, and a quarter of commercial pilots earn $95,870 or less.
How many commercial pilots work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 500 commercial pilots are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.