Commercial Pilots Salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Commercial Pilots in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA make a median of $102,960 a year, or about $null an hour. The range runs from $63K at the entry level to $0K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 111.89), so that salary is closer to $92,019 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $3,001/month — about 47.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $103K get you in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad’s Regional Price Parity (111.89). 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
Sponsored links — AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Entry-level commercial pilots (10th percentile) start around $63K. Mid-career wages sit at $103K. Top earners bring in N/A or more.
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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad numbers change.
Related careers in Transportation
Frequently asked questions
How much do commercial pilots make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median is $102,960 a year, that works out to about $0 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $62,770, and experienced commercial pilots can clear N/A. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $103K enough to live in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,259/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $3,001/month, which eats 47.9% 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 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 commercial pilots salary is worth about $92,019 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.