Commercial Pilots Pay Range in Iowa
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$77,790
- 25th Percentile — Junior$91,550
- 50th Percentile — Median$101,800
- 75th Percentile — Senior$159,040
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$199,340
Half of Commercial Pilots in Iowa earn more than $101,800. The top 10% make $199,340 or more, while entry-level workers start around $77,790.
Commercial Pilots in Iowa: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- Iowa ranks 30th of 48 states for Commercial Pilots pay, at $124,640 per year (14.7% below the U.S. average of $146,080).
- 300 people work as Commercial Pilots in Iowa — 0.6% of all U.S. Commercial Pilots jobs.
- Location quotient 0.62: Commercial Pilots jobs are less concentrated in Iowa than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $77,790; the top 10% earn over $199,340.
- Hourly equivalent: $59.92 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Connecticut at $231,650.
- Among transportation jobs in Iowa, Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers pays the most ($144,660).
Commercial Pilots Job Market in Iowa
Key factors affecting compensation
Iowa's key industries are Agriculture, Manufacturing, Finance, and its job market is rated moderate. Commercial Pilots here earn $124,640 on average, placing the state 30th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.86 (U.S. = 1.00), a Iowa salary of $124,640 is roughly equivalent to $144,930 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Michigan ($127,700), Tennessee ($126,190), Indiana ($125,910) are the closest alternatives for Commercial Pilots weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Transportation Jobs in Iowa
Related career salary benchmarks
- Airline Pilots Copilots and Flight Engineers $144,660/yr Iowa +16.1% vs this role
- Transportation Inspectors $113,620/yr Iowa 8.8% vs this role
- Air Traffic Controllers $91,670/yr Iowa 26.5% vs this role
- Captains Mates and Pilots of Water Vessels $91,380/yr Iowa 26.7% vs this role
- Locomotive Engineers $86,180/yr Iowa 30.9% vs this role
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $60,070/yr Iowa 51.8% vs this role
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators $48,870/yr Iowa 60.8% vs this role
- Light Truck Drivers $46,700/yr Iowa 62.5% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Commercial Pilots salary in Iowa?
The average Commercial Pilots salary in Iowa is $124,640 per year (median $101,800), which is 14.7% below the national average of $146,080.
How does Iowa rank for Commercial Pilots pay?
Iowa ranks 30th out of 48 states. The highest-paying state is Connecticut ($231,650/yr).
How much do entry-level Commercial Pilots make in Iowa?
The lowest-paid 10% of Commercial Pilots in Iowa earn about $77,790 per year and the 25th percentile is $91,550.
How much do Commercial Pilots make per hour in Iowa?
About $59.92 per hour, based on the $124,640 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Commercial Pilots work in Iowa?
BLS counts 300 Commercial Pilots jobs in Iowa (OEWS May 2025).
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