Commercial Pilots pay in California
$202,040avg. a year
Annual salary · 4,900 employed
Commercial Pilots in California earn an average of $202,040 a year. That is $55,960 (38%) more than the U.S. average of $146,080. The best-paying metro area is Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA at $218,810.
$165,590Median pay
$202,040Average yearly
+47%Avg. pay since 2020
#3Of 48 states
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for commercial pilots by metro area. Swipe to see all 16.
1130 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$218,810
a year
2380 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$181,600
a year
3200 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$177,010
a year
450 jobs
Modesto, CA
$176,410
a year
560 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$161,510
a year
6370 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$156,890
a year
7120 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$150,610
a year
840 jobs
Chico, CA
$150,150
a year
950 jobs
Redding, CA
$149,700
a year
10190 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$146,350
a year
11250 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$139,460
a year
12150 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$134,320
a year
1340 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$125,550
a year
1480 jobs
Fresno, CA
$125,370
a year
1530 jobs
Salinas, CA
$118,490
a year
1640 jobs
Visalia, CA
$90,500
a year
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Commercial Pilots pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California commercial pilots work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
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Under $119k$119k–$131k$131k–$152k$152k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $146,080 | – |
| California | $202,040 | – |
| Oregon | $144,320 | – |
| Nevada | $125,470 | – |
| Arizona | $119,320 | – |
Related jobs in California
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do commercial pilots make in California?
The average is $202,040 a year, and the median is $165,590. That is $55,960 (38%) more than the U.S. average of $146,080.
Where in California do they earn the most?
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA ($218,810), followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($181,600). The lowest average among 16 metro areas with data is Visalia, CA ($90,500).
How does California rank?
California ranks #3 of 48 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 53-2012. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national commercial pilots page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.