Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in California
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in California earn a median of $353,900 a year, based on BLS data for 10,670 workers.
Pay ranges from $179,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $427,660 for the top 10%. That is 52% higher than the national median of $232,140. California ranks 4th of 37 states for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.59 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $310,190, close to the median.
Pay range for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in California
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $179,270 |
| 25th percentile | $208,070 |
| Median | $353,900 |
| 75th percentile | $390,260 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $427,660 |
| Average (mean) | $310,190 |
Half of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $29,491.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $14,745.83 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $13,611.54 |
| Weekly | $6,805.77 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $374,680 | 2,900 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $364,730 | 6,710 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $343,140 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $321,950 | 340 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $207,000 | 160 |
| Fresno, CA | $195,310 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Georgia | $618,090 |
| Idaho | $507,640 |
| Michigan | $428,570 |
| California | $353,900 |
| Kentucky | $350,950 |
| Colorado | $307,490 |
| Illinois | $293,490 |
| New York | $255,240 |
| Alaska | $232,140 |
| Washington | $229,900 |
See Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay in every state.
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $82,170 | — |
| Commercial Pilot | $165,590 | — |
| Air Traffic Controller | $160,080 | $76.96 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $62,600 | $30.10 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,710 | $21.50 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $42,870 | $20.61 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $60,230 | $28.96 |
| Light Truck Driver | $46,790 | $22.50 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $47,770 | $22.97 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $37,260 | $17.91 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | $65,550 | $31.51 |
| Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | $37,920 | $18.23 |
| Driver/Sales Worker | $45,600 | $21.92 |
| Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs | $44,730 | $21.50 |
More: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations · all salaries in California
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 53-2011. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in California?
The median salary for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in California is $353,900 a year. Pay ranges from $179,270 for the lowest-paid 10% to $427,660 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make in California?
The top 10% of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in California earn at least $427,660 a year. The top 25% earn $390,260 or more.
What is the starting pay for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $179,270 a year, and a quarter of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers earn $208,070 or less.
How many airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers work in California?
About 10,670 airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.