Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
The median pay for a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA is $205,650/year, per BLS data. Entry-level workers start around $177K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.) Prices run high here (RPP 111.89), so that salary is closer to $183,797 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $3,001/month, or 25.5% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $206K get you in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
About airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Entry-level airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers (10th percentile) start around $177K. Mid-career wages sit at $206K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $226K | -0% | 1,620 |
| Florida | $220K | -3% | 6,640 |
| Texas | $215K | -5% | 10,050 |
| Oregon | $215K | -5% | 740 |
| Arizona | $199K | -12% | 2,070 |
| Connecticut | $190K | -16% | N/A |
| Minnesota | $185K | -19% | N/A |
| Nevada | $181K | -20% | 1,710 |
| Pennsylvania | $173K | -24% | 4,030 |
| Indiana | $171K | -25% | N/A |
| Arkansas | $166K | -27% | 340 |
| South Carolina | $158K | -30% | 160 |
| Maine | $158K | -30% | 40 |
| North Carolina | $154K | -32% | 4,310 |
| Kansas | $137K | -40% | 70 |
Track airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median is $205,650 a year. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $177,480. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $206K enough to live in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,486/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,001/month (HUD Fair Market Rent), which eats 26.1% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary go in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad has a Regional Price Parity of 111.89 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary is worth about $183,797 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.