Commercial Pilot Salary in Denver, CO
Commercial Pilots in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area earn a median $132,810 a year — 8% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $96,906 take-home, or $8,076 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median commercial pilot salary in Denver, CO. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,608
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,234
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,926
- Colorado income tax$5,135
- Take-home pay$96,906
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 4.40% state
Commercial Pilot pay by experience in Denver, CO
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $57,100 | $27.45 | $46,256 | $3,855 |
| 25th percentile | $98,660 | $47.43 | $74,605 | $6,217 |
| Median (50th) | $132,810 | $63.85 | $96,906 | $8,076 |
| 75th percentile | $218,440 | $105.02 | $153,560 | $12,797 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $285,550+ | $137.28 | $194,268 | $16,189 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Colorado resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $132,810 buys in Denver, CO
Prices in Denver, CO are 5.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.47× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median commercial pilot's $96,906 take-home pay has the buying power of $91,610 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Denver, CO has 1.4× the national concentration of commercial pilot jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for commercial pilots, adjusted for cost of living
Denver, CO ranks #9 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 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $132,810 | $96,906 | $91,610 |
*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 Denver, CO?
The median commercial pilot salary in the Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro area is $132,810 a year, or about $63.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $98,660 and $218,440.
What is a commercial pilot’s take-home pay in Denver, CO?
On the median $132,810 salary, a single filer living in Colorado takes home about $96,906 a year ($8,076 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $5,135 in Colorado taxes in 2026.
Is Denver, CO a good place to work as a commercial pilot?
Pay here is 8% above the national median of $123,220. Local prices are 5.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $91,610 would in a typical U.S. city. Denver, CO ranks #9 of 17 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a commercial pilot afford rent in Denver, CO?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Denver, CO is $1,754 a month ($2,089 for two bedrooms) — 22% of a median commercial pilot’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Denver, CO
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $239,200+
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $69,250
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $66,590
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $63,900
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $61,190
- Bus Drivers, School — $59,990
- Flight Attendant — $59,500
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $52,190
- Light Truck Driver — $49,360
- Driver/Sales Worker — $46,600
- Aircraft Service Attendant — $46,350
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $46,290