Quick answer: The Columbus metro employs about 1,410 commercial pilots (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through the FAA and the flight schools you are considering.
Licensing
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Aviation is federally regulated rather than state licensed. The FAA issues pilot certificates and ratings, and the requirements are national and uniform - which makes this one of the few credentials on the site that does not vary by state. Programs may hold AABI accreditation, and some hold FAA authority that reduces the flight hours required for an airline transport certificate.
See the Ohio licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with the FAA and the flight schools you are considering.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How we rank schools – graduation rate, graduate earnings, cost and retention.
Advertising plays no part.
This page lists 6 schools
within 118 miles, closest group first, then ordered by
BOC Score with the highest at the top.
6 of them carry a score.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate how often students finish
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry whether it paid off
25%
Average net price what students actually pay after aid; lower ranks higher
20%
Retention rate how many come back for year two
15%
Fully online availability whether you can study while working
10%
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal
about the institution rather than about this subject.
Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from
this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Commercial Pilots in the Columbus area earn a median $175,690 per year, above the national median of $123,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Aviation Pay in Columbus, OH
Metric
Columbus metro
Ohio
National
Median annual wage
$175,690
$150,330
$123,220
10th percentile
$60,300
$60,300
$58,850
25th percentile
$92,980
$82,440
$84,540
75th percentile
$216,270
$211,620
$190,440
90th percentile
$216,270
$219,140
$266,620
Employment
1,410
2,680
47,630
Location quotient
4.15
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Columbus, OH metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The Columbus median of $175,690 is above the national median of $123,220, and above the Ohio statewide median of $150,330 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 4.15 means commercial pilots are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Pilot employment concentrates around airline hubs, cargo operations and corporate aviation bases rather than following population.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do commercial pilots make in Columbus?
The median annual wage for commercial pilots in the Columbus, OH metro area is $175,690, above the national median of $123,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many commercial pilots work in the Columbus area?
The Columbus, OH metro area employs about 1,410 commercial pilots (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do commercial pilots in Columbus need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Aviation is federally regulated rather than state licensed. The FAA issues pilot certificates and ratings, and the requirements are national and uniform - which makes this one of the few credentials on the site that does not vary by state. Programs may hold AABI accreditation, and some hold FAA authority that reduces the flight hours required for an airline transport certificate. Confirm current requirements with the FAA and the flight schools you are considering.
Can I study aviation online from Columbus?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies the FAA and the flight schools you are considering.
Is Columbus a better market than the rest of Ohio?
The Columbus metro median is $175,690 against a statewide median of $150,330 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Commercial Pilots (SOC 53-2012), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
