SOC 53-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Commercial Pilots — New Orleans
New Orleans-Metairie, LA · 5 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in New Orleans, LA comes to $135,950 a year, ahead of the national median of $123,220 by 10.3%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in New Orleans, LA comes to $135,950 a year, ahead of the national median of $123,220 by 10.3%. Pay ranges from under $71,060 at the tenth percentile to more than $169,410 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $95,940 to $147,840.
Employment stands at 140, or 0.3 jobs per thousand held locally. Within the state, Lake Charles records the highest median at $99,600. Of the 505 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 14th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $71,060 | −42.3% |
| 25th | $95,940 | −22.1% |
| Median (50th) | $135,950 | +10.3% |
| 75th | $147,840 | +20.0% |
| 90th | $169,410 | +37.5% |
| Mean | $132,650 | +7.7% |
Other metro areas in Louisiana
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Charles | $99,600 | 70 | |
| 2 | Houma | $97,570 | 160 | |
| 3 | Monroe | $91,490 | 40 | |
| 4 | Baton Rouge | $89,700 | 90 | |
| 5 | Lafayette | $79,430 | 210 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New Orleans run 11.8% below the national average, so the median of $135,950 goes as far as $154,138 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 25.1% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$135,950as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$154,138US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $135,950 a year, 10.3% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $71,060 to $169,410 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 140 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Lake Charles, at $99,600.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Commercial Pilots in New Orleans, LA?
The median annual wage is $135,950, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $123,220, so pay in New Orleans, LA is 10.3% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in New Orleans, LA earns more than $169,410 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $71,060 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Lake Charles, at $99,600 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 140 jobs in this occupation in New Orleans, LA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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