Commercial Pilot Salary in Washington, DC
Commercial Pilots in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $125,850 a year — 2% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $89,556 take-home, or $7,463 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median commercial pilot salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,938
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,803
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,825
- District of Columbia income tax$7,729
- Take-home pay$89,556
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Commercial Pilot pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,310 | $36.21 | $58,362 | $4,863 |
| 25th percentile | $93,460 | $44.93 | $69,604 | $5,800 |
| Median (50th) | $125,850 | $60.50 | $89,556 | $7,463 |
| 75th percentile | $192,550 | $92.57 | $129,975 | $10,831 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $259,570+ | $124.79 | $170,370 | $14,197 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $125,850 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median commercial pilot's $89,556 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,249 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 Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.53), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for commercial pilots, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #15 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 |
| 15 | Washington, DC | $125,850 | $89,556 | $82,249 |
*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 Washington, DC?
The median commercial pilot salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $125,850 a year, or about $60.50 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $93,460 and $192,550.
What is a commercial pilot’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $125,850 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $89,556 a year ($7,463 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,729 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a commercial pilot?
Pay here is 2% above the national median of $123,220. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,249 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #15 of 17 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a commercial pilot afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 27% of a median commercial pilot’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $209,750
- Air Traffic Controller — $174,870
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $67,960
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $65,220
- Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other — $64,600
- Flight Attendant — $63,580
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,820
- Bus Drivers, School — $57,610
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,710
- Passenger Attendant — $49,190
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $46,530
- Light Truck Driver — $46,360