Commercial Pilots Salary in California
Commercial Pilots in California make a median of $122,100 a year, or about $null an hour. The range runs from $60K at the entry level to $0K for experienced workers.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $122K get you in California?
About commercial pilots
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $60K. Mid-career wages sit at $122K. Top earners bring in N/A or more.
Commercial Pilots salary by metro in California
18 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $177K | +45% | 2,110 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $170K | +39% | 530 |
| Chico | $112K | -8% | 40 |
| Stockton-Lodi | $112K | -9% | 40 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma | $108K | -11% | 170 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $107K | -13% | 70 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $105K | -14% | 200 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $103K | -15% | 260 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $103K | -16% | 490 |
| Modesto | $101K | -17% | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $98K | -20% | 110 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $95K | -23% | 270 |
| Salinas | $92K | -25% | 50 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $92K | -25% | 190 |
| Vallejo | $77K | -37% | 30 |
| Fresno | $76K | -38% | 100 |
| Merced | $75K | -39% | 60 |
| Visalia | $74K | -39% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 18 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
How much do commercial pilots make in California?
The median is $122,100 a year, that works out to about $0 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $59,790, and experienced commercial pilots can clear N/A. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $122K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,226/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 34.2% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a commercial pilots salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median commercial pilots salary is worth about $115,037 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.