Commercial Pilots Salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Commercial Pilots in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA make a median of $177,300 a year. Entry-level workers start around $63K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.) Prices run high here (RPP 113.57), so that salary is closer to $156,115 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,601/month, or 24.8% of estimated take-home pay.
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (latest release, May 2024)
So what does $177K get you in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
About commercial pilots
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $177K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
Commercial Pilots pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $227K | +85% | 360 |
| New York | $173K | +41% | 1,070 |
| Texas | $163K | +33% | 5,030 |
| Delaware | $156K | +27% | 100 |
| Georgia | $139K | +14% | 920 |
| Massachusetts | $137K | +12% | 300 |
| Maine | $135K | +10% | 110 |
| Nevada | $132K | +8% | 1,590 |
| Michigan | $131K | +6% | 1,400 |
| Florida | $131K | +6% | 6,100 |
| Maryland | $131K | +6% | 400 |
| Pennsylvania | $130K | +6% | 740 |
| North Carolina | $127K | +3% | 1,470 |
| Wyoming | $127K | +3% | 150 |
| Missouri | $124K | +1% | 810 |
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
How much do commercial pilots make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median is $177,300 a year. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $177K enough to live in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,949/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,601/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 commercial pilots salary go in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim has a Regional Price Parity of 113.57 (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 $156,115 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.