Occupational Employment Statistics

DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

53-2012 Commercial Pilots

Occupational Description:
Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air carrier routes, or helicopters. Requires Commercial Pilot certificate. Includes charter pilots with similar certification, and air ambulance and air tour pilots. Excludes regional, National, and international airline pilots.

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
First Quarter 2026

Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Minnesota	910	96	$125,937.73/yr	$43,604.05/yr	$61,936.75/yr	$100,789.01/yr	$167,743.25/yr	>$100/hr

Leading Industries for Commercial Pilots

Industry	OES Employment (Statewide)	OES Median Wage (Statewide)
Natural Resources and Mining	10	N/A
Construction	N/A	N/A
Manufacturing	30	N/A
Trade, Transportation and Utilities	510	N/A
Professional and Business Services	40	N/A
Education and Health Services	280	N/A
Public Administration	10	N/A

Other Regional Data for Commercial Pilots

Geography	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change 2022-2032
Duluth MN-WI MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Mankato-North Mankato MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
St Cloud MN MSA	N/A	N/A	N/A
Northeast Balance of State	20	$101,504.34/yr	N/A
Southeast Balance of State	20	$60,403.92/yr	N/A
La Crosse WI-MN MSA	30	$101,524.77/yr	N/A
Rochester MN MSA	30	$134,368.32/yr	N/A
Southeast Minnesota	40	$83,212.50/yr	3.3%
Grand Forks ND-MN MSA	40	$114,124.68/yr	N/A
Southwest Balance of State	40	$79,830.05/yr	N/A
Central Minnesota	50	$79,830.05/yr	N/A
Northeast Minnesota	50	$81,061.43/yr	4.5%
Northwest Minnesota	70	$100,044.05/yr	4.3%
Northwest Balance of State	70	$100,043.03/yr	N/A
Southwest Minnesota	110	$58,418.39/yr	N/A
Fargo ND-MN MSA	110	$134,838.39/yr	N/A
Seven County Mpls-St Paul, MN	500	$129,775.94/yr	1.2%
Minneapolis-St Paul-Bloomington MN-WI MSA	560	$129,320.18/yr	N/A
Minnesota	910	$100,789.01/yr	3.5%

Related Occupations

Occupations	Employment	Median Wage	Projections % Change -
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers	2,960	>$100/hr	N/A
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels	110	$39.75/hr	5.5%
Locomotive Engineers	990	$46.04/hr	2.8%

Task for Commercial Pilots

Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes.
Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.
Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.
Supervise other crew members.
Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.
Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required.
Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption.
Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.