How much does a commercial pilot make in San Jose?
$159,400a year
Median yearly pay for commercial pilots in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area. That is $76.64 an hour or $13,290 a month.
- Hourly
- $76.64
- Vs. national median
- +29%
- Rank among cities
- 21 of 157
- Jobs in the area
- 200
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $45,810Median: $159,400Highest 10%: $305,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $45,810 | $22.02 | |
| 25th | $73,710 | $35.44 | |
| Median | $159,400 | $76.64 | |
| 75th | $276,600 | $133.00 | |
| 90th | $305,200 | $146.74 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for commercial pilots.
| Santa Rosa, CA | $274,700 |
| San Francisco, CA | $173,100 |
| 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 Jose
Same field, median yearly pay.
Salaries for every job in San Jose, CAFrequently asked questions
How much does a commercial pilot make an hour in San Jose?
The median hourly pay in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $76.64 ($159,400 a year).
Do commercial pilots make more in San Jose than the national average?
Yes: $159,400 against $123,200 nationally, 29% more.
How does San Jose compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $165,600, so San Jose pays 4% less.
Where does San Jose rank for commercial pilot pay?
21 of 157 metro areas with data.
How much does a commercial pilot make starting out in San Jose?
The lowest-paid 10% make $45,810 or less a year; the top 10% make $305,200 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.