Commercial Pilot salary in California
Commercial Pilots in California earn a median of $165,590 a year, based on BLS data for 4,900 workers.
Pay ranges from $63,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $500,170 for the top 10%. That is 34% higher than the national median of $123,220. California ranks 4th of 48 states for commercial pilots pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.27 commercial pilots per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $202,040, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for commercial pilots in California
| Pay level | Yearly |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $63,890 |
| 25th percentile | $85,020 |
| Median | $165,590 |
| 75th percentile | $278,940 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $500,170 |
| Average (mean) | $202,040 |
Half of commercial pilots 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 | $13,799.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,899.58 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,368.85 |
| Weekly | $3,184.42 |
BLS publishes only yearly pay for this job, because commercial pilots are usually paid a salary and may not work a full 2,080-hour year. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Commercial Pilot salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $274,730 | 130 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $173,070 | 380 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $159,420 | 200 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $149,200 | 60 |
| Modesto, CA | $140,920 | 50 |
| Redding, CA | $135,340 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $128,080 | 370 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $124,570 | 190 |
| Chico, CA | $123,880 | 40 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $119,400 | 120 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $115,450 | 40 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $112,320 | 250 |
| Fresno, CA | $112,000 | 80 |
| Salinas, CA | $102,580 | 30 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $102,300 | 150 |
| Visalia, CA | $75,600 | 40 |
Highest-paying states for commercial pilots
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Connecticut | $232,160 |
| New Jersey | $226,710 |
| New York | $177,430 |
| California | $165,590 |
| Delaware | $163,600 |
| Ohio | $150,330 |
| Georgia | $145,100 |
| Colorado | $139,680 |
| Texas | $137,960 |
| Vermont | $137,810 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Flight Attendant | $82,170 | — |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $353,900 | — |
| 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 53-2012. 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 commercial pilot make in California?
The median salary for commercial pilots in California is $165,590 a year. Pay ranges from $63,890 for the lowest-paid 10% to $500,170 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid commercial pilots make in California?
The top 10% of commercial pilots in California earn at least $500,170 a year. The top 25% earn $278,940 or more.
What is the starting pay for commercial pilots in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $63,890 a year, and a quarter of commercial pilots earn $85,020 or less.
How many commercial pilots work in California?
About 4,900 commercial pilots are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.