Commercial Pilot Salary in Phoenix, AZ
Commercial Pilots in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area earn a median $105,770 a year — 14% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $80,804 take-home, or $6,734 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median commercial pilot salary in Phoenix, AZ. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$14,439
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,558
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,534
- Arizona income tax$2,436
- Take-home pay$80,804
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 2.50% state
Commercial Pilot pay by experience in Phoenix, AZ
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $71,650 | $34.45 | $57,653 | $4,804 |
| 25th percentile | $98,410 | $47.31 | $75,810 | $6,317 |
| Median (50th) | $105,770 | $50.85 | $80,804 | $6,734 |
| 75th percentile | $133,860 | $64.36 | $99,622 | $8,302 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $219,760 | $105.65 | $158,044 | $13,170 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, Arizona resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $105,770 buys in Phoenix, AZ
Prices in Phoenix, AZ are 3.3% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.21× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median commercial pilot's $80,804 take-home pay has the buying power of $78,210 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Phoenix, AZ 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
Phoenix, AZ ranks #16 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 |
| 16 | Phoenix, AZ | $105,770 | $80,804 | $78,210 |
*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 Phoenix, AZ?
The median commercial pilot salary in the Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ metro area is $105,770 a year, or about $50.85 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $98,410 and $133,860.
What is a commercial pilot’s take-home pay in Phoenix, AZ?
On the median $105,770 salary, a single filer living in Arizona takes home about $80,804 a year ($6,734 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $2,436 in Arizona taxes in 2026.
Is Phoenix, AZ a good place to work as a commercial pilot?
Pay here is 14% below the national median of $123,220. Local prices are 3.3% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $78,210 would in a typical U.S. city. Phoenix, AZ ranks #16 of 17 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a commercial pilot afford rent in Phoenix, AZ?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Phoenix, AZ is $1,583 a month ($1,839 for two bedrooms) — 24% of a median commercial pilot’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Phoenix, AZ
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $228,040
- Crane and Tower Operator — $72,580
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $64,990
- Flight Attendant — $61,780
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,770
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $57,020
- Transportation Inspector — $51,990
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $48,770
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $47,460
- Bus Drivers, School — $46,760
- Light Truck Driver — $45,790
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $44,950