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SOC 53-2012·Transportation & Material MovingGood pay · growing
Commercial Pilots
Median wage
$176,691
10-yr outlook
+2.9%by 2032
Openings / year
123
Workers in NY
1,070
How pay grows with experience
Commercial Pilots — typical pay by experience
Annual wages statewide: starting out, typical (median), and experienced.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting out (entry) | $98,570 |
| Median (typical) | $176,691 |
| Experienced | $266,978 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
Where it pays most across New York
Median pay for this occupation by region. Select a region for its full profile.
Commercial Pilots — median pay by region
Regional median annual wage, highest first.
| Category | Value |
|---|---|
| Hudson Valley | $220,160 |
| Southern Tier | $173,761 |
| Long Island | $173,534 |
| Central New York | $153,449 |
| Western New York | $152,715 |
| Capital Region | $151,563 |
| Finger Lakes | $111,713 |
Source: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (NYSDOL / U.S. BLS via data.ny.gov)
Ways in
Lower-paying roles in the same field
Jobs in the same field (Transportation & Material Moving) that pay less than this one — often earlier-career roles or a way in.
- Air Traffic Controllers$145,646 median (−$31,046)
- Ship Engineers$134,845 median (−$41,846)
- Crane and Tower Operators$112,676 median (−$64,015) · +2.7% by 2032
- Locomotive Engineers$109,898 median (−$66,793) · +1.3% by 2032
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$106,027 median (−$70,664) · +4.1% by 2032
- Transportation Inspectors$93,366 median (−$83,326) · +18.5% by 2032
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