Commercial Pilots · Illinois

Commercial Pilots Salary in Illinois

Commercial Pilots in Illinois earn a median annual wage of $126,100 —2.3% above the national median of $123,220. That ranks IL #19 of 48 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$126,100
Median hourly
—
Entry level (P10)
$51,890
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$376,830
90th percentile
Employment
1,170
0.2 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+2.3%
U.S. $123,220

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$51,890
$64,370
$126,100
$200,440
$51,890$126,100$376,830
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $126,100.

Employment is only 0.63× as concentrated as the national average — this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Highest-paying states for commercial pilots

All 48 states ranked by median annual wage. Illinois is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1Connecticut$232,160—4600.89
2New Jersey$226,710—6700.51
3New York$177,430—1,0700.36
4California$165,590—4,9000.88
5Delaware$163,600—2201.49
6Ohio$150,330—2,6801.58
7Georgia$145,100—1,0200.68
8Colorado$139,680—1,2401.40
9Texas$137,960—4,1200.96
10Vermont$137,810—400.40

Related occupations in Illinois

Occupations in the same job family, compared within Illinois.

Frequently asked questions

How much do commercial pilots make in Illinois?

The median annual wage for commercial pilots in Illinois is $126,100, or — per hour. That is 2.3% above the national median of $123,220.

What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Illinois?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $51,890 per year (—/hour). The 25th percentile is $64,370.

How many people work as commercial pilots in Illinois?

About 1,170 people work in this occupation in Illinois, or 0.2 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is Illinois a good state for commercial pilots?

Illinois ranks #19 of 48 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment is only 0.63x as concentrated as the national average, so this occupation is relatively scarce in Illinois.

Which state pays commercial pilots the most?

Connecticut has the highest median wage at $232,160 per year, followed by New Jersey ($226,710) and New York ($177,430).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes