How much does a commercial pilot make in California?
$165,600a year
Median yearly pay for commercial pilots in California. That is $79.61 an hour or $13,800 a month.
- Hourly
- $79.61
- Vs. national median
- +34%
- Rank among states
- 4 of 48
- Jobs in the state
- 4,900
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $63,890Median: $165,600Highest 10%: $500,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $63,890 | $30.72 | |
| 25th | $85,020 | $40.88 | |
| Median | $165,600 | $79.61 | |
| 75th | $278,900 | $134.11 | |
| 90th | $500,200 | $240.47 |
Cities in California
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Santa Rosa, CA | $274,700 |
| San Francisco, CA | $173,100 |
| San Jose, CA | $159,400 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $149,200 |
| Modesto, CA | $140,900 |
| Redding, CA | $135,300 |
| San Diego, CA | $128,100 |
| Sacramento, CA | $124,600 |
| Chico, CA | $123,900 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $119,400 |
| Stockton, CA | $115,500 |
| Riverside, CA | $112,300 |
| Fresno, CA | $112,000 |
| Salinas, CA | $102,600 |
| Oxnard, CA | $102,300 |
| Visalia, CA | $75,600 |
Nearby in the ranking
States with similar pay for commercial pilots.
| 1. Connecticut | $232,200 |
| 2. New Jersey | $226,700 |
| 3. New York | $177,400 |
| 4. California | $165,600 |
| 5. Delaware | $163,600 |
| 6. Ohio | $150,300 |
| 7. Georgia | $145,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a commercial pilot make an hour in California?
The median hourly pay in California is $79.61 ($165,600 a year).
Do commercial pilots make more in California than the national average?
Yes: $165,600 against $123,200 nationally, 34% more.
Where does California rank for commercial pilot pay?
California ranks 4 of 48 states.
Which city in California pays commercial pilots the most?
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA, with a median of $274,700 a year.
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.