The average salary for a commercial pilot in California is around $81,940 per year.
Avg Salary
Commercial pilots earn an average yearly salary of $81,940.
Wages typically start from $47,020 and go up to $166,330.
31% above national average Updated in 2018
Commercial pilot earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:
$79.97 per hour
$166,330 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:
$55.94 per hour
$116,360 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:
$39.39 per hour
$81,940 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level commercial pilot earnings begin at:
$29.92 per hour
$62,230 per year
10th percentile
Starting level commercial pilot earnings begin at:
$22.61 per hour
$47,020 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Commercial pilot salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $99,990 |
| Maryland | $97,100 |
| Rhode Island | $94,660 |
| Kansas | $93,250 |
| Kentucky | $93,160 |
| Texas | $92,720 |
| Nevada | $92,530 |
| Delaware | $92,260 |
| Mississippi | $92,220 |
| Washington | $92,140 |
| Alabama | $89,730 |
| Pennsylvania | $89,030 |
| Minnesota | $87,510 |
| Virginia | $87,440 |
| Missouri | $86,990 |
| New Jersey | $86,660 |
| Hawaii | $86,090 |
| Iowa | $82,390 |
| New Mexico | $82,130 |
| California | $81,940 |
| Colorado | $81,480 |
| Ohio | $81,050 |
| Vermont | $80,110 |
| Arizona | $79,458 |
| Nebraska | $78,820 |
| North Dakota | $77,830 |
| Oklahoma | $77,560 |
| Florida | $77,430 |
| Idaho | $76,310 |
| Michigan | $75,600 |
| Alaska | $75,506 |
| West Virginia | $75,000 |
| North Carolina | $74,150 |
| Utah | $73,490 |
| Tennessee | $71,280 |
| Wyoming | $70,280 |
| Arkansas | $70,170 |
| Wisconsin | $68,780 |
| Louisiana | $68,740 |
| Oregon | $65,820 |
| Indiana | $65,510 |
| Montana | $64,640 |
| South Dakota | $60,520 |
| New Hampshire | $57,210 |
| Maine | $54,960 |
| New York | $127,590 |
| South Carolina | $114,210 |
| Connecticut | $110,870 |
| Massachusetts | $104,830 |
| Georgia | $101,600 |
How do commercial pilot salaries compare to similar careers?
Commercial pilots earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than air traffic controllers but more than transportation planners.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Air traffic controller salary | $142K |
| Commercial pilot salary | $82K |
| Logistician salary | $81K |
| Customs broker salary | $75K |
| Locomotive engineer salary | $78K |
| Transportation planner salary | $78K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)