Commercial Pilots Salary in Merced, CA
Commercial Pilots in Merced, CA make a median of $74,840 a year, or about $null an hour. The range runs from $36K at the entry level to $155K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.28), that's roughly $76,150 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,503/month — about 30.8% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $75K get you in Merced?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Merced’s Regional Price Parity (98.28). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About commercial pilots
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Merced, CA
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $36K. Mid-career wages sit at $75K. Top earners bring in $155K or more, a $119K spread from bottom to top.
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 |
| Washington | $124K | +1% | 1,060 |
| California | $122K | -0% | 5,530 |
| Louisiana | $121K | -2% | 880 |
| South Carolina | $120K | -2% | 310 |
| Tennessee | $119K | -3% | 1,020 |
| Minnesota | $118K | -4% | 1,540 |
| Ohio | $116K | -5% | 3,850 |
| Virginia | $115K | -6% | 1,110 |
| Oregon | $113K | -8% | 740 |
| North Dakota | $111K | -9% | 230 |
| Alaska | $111K | -10% | 1,870 |
| Oklahoma | $108K | -12% | 360 |
| Alabama | $107K | -13% | 1,140 |
| Illinois | $105K | -14% | 1,010 |
| Kansas | $103K | -16% | 730 |
| Wisconsin | $103K | -16% | 960 |
| Montana | $103K | -16% | 290 |
| Idaho | $103K | -16% | 320 |
| West Virginia | $103K | -16% | 60 |
| Hawaii | $102K | -17% | 450 |
| Arizona | $102K | -17% | 1,330 |
| Rhode Island | $101K | -17% | 40 |
| Kentucky | $101K | -17% | 540 |
| Utah | $101K | -18% | 680 |
| Iowa | $101K | -18% | 440 |
| Nebraska | $100K | -18% | 310 |
| Mississippi | $100K | -19% | 300 |
| Indiana | $97K | -21% | 660 |
| Vermont | $96K | -22% | 30 |
| New Mexico | $85K | -31% | 410 |
| Arkansas | $84K | -31% | 410 |
| South Dakota | $76K | -38% | 290 |
| New Hampshire | $61K | -50% | 390 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track commercial pilots salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Merced numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do commercial pilots make in Merced, CA?
The median is $74,840 a year, that works out to about $0 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $35,810, and experienced commercial pilots can clear $154,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $75K enough to live in Merced?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,828/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,503/month, which eats 31.1% 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 Merced?
Merced has a Regional Price Parity of 98.28 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median commercial pilots salary is worth about $76,150 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.