Commercial Pilot Salary in Minneapolis, MN
Commercial Pilots in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median $126,550 a year — 3% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $90,662 take-home, or $7,555 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median commercial pilot salary in Minneapolis, MN. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$19,106
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,846
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,835
- Minnesota income tax$7,101
- Take-home pay$90,662
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 7.85% state
The Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro spans Minnesota, Wisconsin. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Commercial Pilot pay by experience in Minneapolis, MN
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $45,870 | $22.05 | $37,401 | $3,117 |
| 25th percentile | $64,850 | $31.18 | $51,401 | $4,283 |
| Median (50th) | $126,550 | $60.84 | $90,662 | $7,555 |
| 75th percentile | $189,250 | $90.99 | $128,890 | $10,741 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $311,940+ | $149.97 | $199,133 | $16,594 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Minnesota resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $126,550 buys in Minneapolis, MN
Prices in Minneapolis, MN are 4.8% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.12× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median commercial pilot's $90,662 take-home pay has the buying power of $86,491 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 about as common in Minneapolis, MN as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.93).
Best-paying cities for commercial pilots, adjusted for cost of living
Minneapolis, MN ranks #12 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 |
| 12 | Minneapolis, MN | $126,550 | $90,662 | $86,491 |
*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 Minneapolis, MN?
The median commercial pilot salary in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $126,550 a year, or about $60.84 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $64,850 and $189,250.
What is a commercial pilot’s take-home pay in Minneapolis, MN?
On the median $126,550 salary, a single filer living in Minnesota takes home about $90,662 a year ($7,555 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,101 in Minnesota taxes in 2026.
Is Minneapolis, MN a good place to work as a commercial pilot?
Pay here is 3% above the national median of $123,220. Local prices are 4.8% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $86,491 would in a typical U.S. city. Minneapolis, MN ranks #12 of 17 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a commercial pilot afford rent in Minneapolis, MN?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Minneapolis, MN is $1,396 a month ($1,700 for two bedrooms) — 18% of a median commercial pilot’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Minneapolis, MN
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $211,470
- Air Traffic Controller — $179,670
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $72,140
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $64,410
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $64,200
- Flight Attendant — $61,230
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $57,050
- Bus Drivers, School — $50,240
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,740
- Light Truck Driver — $49,670
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $47,320
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $42,280