Commercial Pilots Salary
Commercial Pilots in California make a median of $165,590 a year. The range runs from $64K at the entry level to $500K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $156,011 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,471/month, or 25.3% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $166K get you in California?
About commercial pilots
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in California
California sits well above the national pay line for commercial pilots, local pay runs about 34% higher than the U.S. median of $123K. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 26.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $64K. Mid-career wages sit at $166K. Top earners bring in $500K or more, a $436K spread from bottom to top.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in California
16 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $275K | +66% | 130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $173K | +5% | 380 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $159K | -4% | 200 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $149K | -10% | 60 |
| Modesto | $141K | -15% | 50 |
| Redding | $135K | -18% | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $128K | -23% | 370 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $125K | -25% | 190 |
| Chico | $124K | -25% | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $119K | -28% | 120 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $115K | -30% | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $112K | -32% | 250 |
| Fresno | $112K | -32% | 80 |
| Salinas | $103K | -38% | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $102K | -38% | 150 |
| Visalia | $76K | -54% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 16 metros
Compare to other states
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
Can a commercial pilot afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
Yes — at the median salary of $166K, rent takes 26.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for commercial pilots in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new commercial pilots typically earn — is $64K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,833/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 64% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is commercial pilot a high-paying job in California?
Local pay is 34% above the national median — $166K here vs. $123K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 6% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does California compare to the national average for commercial pilots?
California pays $166K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +34%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $156K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do commercial pilots make in California?
The median is $165,590 a year. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $63,890, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $500,170. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $166K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,366/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 26.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a commercial pilots salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (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 commercial pilots salary is worth about $156,011 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do commercial pilots 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.