Commercial Pilot Salary in Chicago, IL
Commercial Pilots in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area earn a median $157,420 a year — 28% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $111,215 take-home, or $9,268 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median commercial pilot salary in Chicago, IL. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$26,515
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,760
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,283
- Illinois income tax$7,648
- Take-home pay$111,215
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.95% state
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro spans Illinois, Indiana. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Commercial Pilot pay by experience in Chicago, IL
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $51,890 | $24.95 | $41,450 | $3,454 |
| 25th percentile | $72,090 | $34.66 | $56,122 | $4,677 |
| Median (50th) | $157,420 | $75.68 | $111,215 | $9,268 |
| 75th percentile | $227,840 | $109.54 | $157,501 | $13,125 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $376,830+ | $181.17 | $244,802 | $20,400 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Illinois resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $157,420 buys in Chicago, IL
Prices in Chicago, IL are 3.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median commercial pilot's $111,215 take-home pay has the buying power of $107,356 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Commercial Pilot jobs are less concentrated in Chicago, IL than nationally (location quotient 0.61), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for commercial pilots, adjusted for cost of living
Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 17 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $225,900 | $155,049 | $137,744 |
| 2 | Columbus, OH | $175,690 | $127,301 | $133,343 |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $166,520 | $121,285 | $129,133 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $160,160 | $120,735 | $117,116 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $157,420 | $111,215 | $107,356 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $146,880 | $104,658 | $104,598 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $131,420 | $101,092 | $102,497 |
| 8 | Ann Arbor, MI | $126,400 | $92,539 | $91,732 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 17 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a commercial pilot make in Chicago, IL?
The median commercial pilot salary in the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area is $157,420 a year, or about $75.68 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $72,090 and $227,840.
What is a commercial pilot’s take-home pay in Chicago, IL?
On the median $157,420 salary, a single filer living in Illinois takes home about $111,215 a year ($9,268 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,648 in Illinois taxes in 2026.
Is Chicago, IL a good place to work as a commercial pilot?
Pay here is 28% above the national median of $123,220. Local prices are 3.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $107,356 would in a typical U.S. city. Chicago, IL ranks #5 of 17 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a commercial pilot afford rent in Chicago, IL?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Chicago, IL is $1,534 a month ($1,743 for two bedrooms) — 17% of a median commercial pilot’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Chicago, IL
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $239,200+
- Air Traffic Controller — $189,780
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $77,470
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels — $76,530
- Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers — $72,180
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $68,330
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $65,200
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $62,300
- Flight Attendant — $62,120
- Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders — $61,420
- Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other — $59,330
- Crane and Tower Operator — $55,890