SOC 53-2012 · Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · May 2025

How much do Commercial Pilots make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

In the May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Commercial Pilots in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $80,160. The 10th percentile is $50,110 and the 90th percentile is $197,650. Employment is 180.

Median annual wage

$80,160

10th percentile
$50,110
25th percentile
$77,300
Median
$80,160
75th percentile
$125,520
90th percentile
$197,650
Mean
$105,720

Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates. BLS reports this occupation on an annual basis. Hourly wages are not published.

A welder at work with a torch
A welder at a bench, 2014. Photograph by Chetan Menaria. Wikimedia Commons · CC0

Percentile spread

For Commercial Pilots, the published 10th percentile is $50,110 and the 90th percentile is $197,650. The difference is $147,540, which is 184.1% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.

The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $77,300 to the 75th at $125,520, covers $48,220.

The mean annual wage is $105,720, which sits above the median of $80,160. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

Hourly wages are not published because BLS reports this occupation on an annual basis. Hourly and annual wages.

National and state comparison

The Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC median is 34.9% lower than the national median of $123,220 for Commercial Pilots. In 2024 national prices the local median is $81,845, which is 33.6% lower than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is 23.6% lower than the Virginia median of $104,890.

Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC covers more than one state. The state comparison uses Virginia, the primary state on the BLS area record.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is 97.941, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $80,160 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Commercial Pilots at $81,845 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

7 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Commercial Pilots. Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ranks 8th of 8 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).

  • Richmond, VA is 70 miles away, with a median of $119,710 and employment of 120. That median is 49.3% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $122,330, against $81,845 here.
  • Lexington Park, MD is 102 miles away, with a median of $171,560 and employment of 60. That median is 114% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $170,266, against $81,845 here.
  • Raleigh-Cary, NC is 137 miles away, with a median of $130,600 and employment of 140. That median is 62.9% higher than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $133,052, against $81,845 here.

Employment share

Commercial Pilots accounts for 0.02% of wage-and-salary employment in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC (180 of 763,060). Nationally the occupation is 0.03% of employment (47,630 of 155,495,730). The local share is 0.77 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.

Highest-paying jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC · Commercial Pilots by metro · How to read these percentiles · Median and mean · When a wage is not published · How the figures are made · Compare this wage after prices

Questions this page answers

How much do Commercial Pilots make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?

In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, released May 15, 2026, the median annual wage for Commercial Pilots in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $80,160. The 10th percentile is $50,110 and the 90th percentile is $197,650. Employment is 180.

How does that compare with the national median for Commercial Pilots?

The local median is 34.9% lower than the national median of $123,220.

What is Commercial Pilots pay in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC after local prices?

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is 97.941, with the United States at 100. In those national prices, the May 2025 median of $80,160 is $81,845. The wage is May 2025 and the parity is 2024.

How does Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC compare with nearby metros for Commercial Pilots?

Richmond, VA is the closest metropolitan area within 200 miles with a published annual median, 70 miles away, at $119,710. Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC ranks 8th of 8 metros within 200 miles on that median. Distances use Census Bureau internal points.