How much does an airline pilot make in San Diego?
$322,000a year
Median yearly pay for airline pilots in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area. That is $154.78 an hour or $26,830 a month.
- Hourly
- $154.78
- Vs. national median
- +39%
- Rank among cities
- 9 of 46
- Jobs in the area
- 340
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $166,400Median: $322,000Highest 10%: $388,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $166,400 | $80.01 | |
| 25th | $198,000 | $95.18 | |
| Median | $322,000 | $154.78 | |
| 75th | $349,300 | $167.93 | |
| 90th | $388,800 | $186.92 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for airline pilots.
| San Francisco, CA | $374,700 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $364,700 |
| San Jose, CA | $343,100 |
| Riverside, CA | $207,000 |
| Fresno, CA | $195,300 |
Related jobs in San Diego
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Commercial Pilot | $128,100 |
| Ship Engineer | $85,310 |
| Traffic Technician | $85,100 |
| Transportation Inspector | $83,000 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $79,720 |
| Captain | $76,490 |
| Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor | $74,590 |
| Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector | $69,300 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $63,550 |
| Bus Driver | $61,290 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an airline pilot make an hour in San Diego?
The median hourly pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $154.78 ($322,000 a year).
Do airline pilots make more in San Diego than the national average?
Yes: $322,000 against $232,100 nationally, 39% more.
How does San Diego compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $353,900, so San Diego pays 9% less.
Where does San Diego rank for airline pilot pay?
9 of 46 metro areas with data.
How much does an airline pilot make starting out in San Diego?
The lowest-paid 10% make $166,400 or less a year; the top 10% make $388,800 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.