How much does a commercial pilot make in San Francisco?
$173,100a year
Median yearly pay for commercial pilots in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area. That is $83.21 an hour or $14,420 a month.
- Hourly
- $83.21
- Vs. national median
- +40%
- Rank among cities
- 13 of 157
- Jobs in the area
- 380
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $83,500Median: $173,100Highest 10%: $304,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $83,500 | $40.14 | |
| 25th | $120,400 | $57.88 | |
| Median | $173,100 | $83.21 | |
| 75th | $238,300 | $114.57 | |
| 90th | $304,300 | $146.27 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for commercial pilots.
| Santa Rosa, CA | $274,700 |
| 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 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $119,400 |
| Riverside, CA | $112,300 |
| Fresno, CA | $112,000 |
| Oxnard, CA | $102,300 |
Related jobs in San Francisco
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Airline Pilot | $374,700 |
| Air Traffic Controller | $193,400 |
| Captain | $124,600 |
| Ship Engineer | $108,800 |
| Transportation Inspector | $104,100 |
| Crane and Tower Operator | $98,410 |
| Traffic Technician | $92,710 |
| Flight Attendant | $89,430 |
| Airfield Operations Specialist | $85,680 |
| Bus Driver | $78,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a commercial pilot make an hour in San Francisco?
The median hourly pay in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $83.21 ($173,100 a year).
Do commercial pilots make more in San Francisco than the national average?
Yes: $173,100 against $123,200 nationally, 40% more.
How does San Francisco compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $165,600, so San Francisco pays 5% more.
Where does San Francisco rank for commercial pilot pay?
13 of 157 metro areas with data.
How much does a commercial pilot make starting out in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% make $83,500 or less a year; the top 10% make $304,300 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.