Commercial Pilots Salary in California (2025)
Official BLS OEWS data · May 2025 · 4,900 employed
Annual Mean
$202,040
N/A
Annual Median
$165,590
N/A
Bottom 10%
$63,890
N/A
Top 10%
$500,170
N/A
Location vs National Average
California
$202,040
Difference
+38.3% vs US avg
US National
$146,080
Salary Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
10th Percentile Bottom 10% | $63,890 |
25th Percentile Lower quarter | $85,020 |
50th PercentileMedian Median | $165,590 |
75th Percentile Upper quarter | $278,940 |
90th Percentile Top 10% | $500,170 |
Salary Distribution
Annual Salary Range
10th
$64K
25th
$85K
Median
$166K
75th
$279K
90th
$500K
California has a moderate number of Commercial Pilots positions (approximately 4,900), reflecting steady demand in this occupation.
In California, Commercial Pilots salaries range from $63,890 at the 10th percentile to $500,170 at the 90th percentile — a spread of $436,280 (263% of the median). This wide range suggests significant variation based on experience and employer in this area.
Top Paying Cities in California
Metro areas with highest Commercial Pilots wages
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$218,810
per year
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$181,600
per year
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$177,010
per year
Modesto, CA
$176,410
per year
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$161,510
per year
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$156,890
per year
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$150,610
per year
Chico, CA
$150,150
per year
How Commercial Pilots Compares in California
The average Commercial Pilots salary of $202,040 in California ranks above the national average of $146,080. There are approximately 4,900 Commercial Pilotss employed in California.
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Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Public domain · Not affiliated with BLS.