The average salary for a pilot in California is around $353,900 per year.
Avg Salary
Pilots earn an average yearly salary of $353,900.
Wages typically start from $179,270 and go up to $427,660.
283% above national average Updated in 2025
Pilot earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level pilot earnings begin at:
$205.61 per hour
$427,660 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level pilot earnings begin at:
$187.62 per hour
$390,260 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level pilot earnings begin at:
$170.14 per hour
$353,900 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level pilot earnings begin at:
$100.03 per hour
$208,070 per year
10th percentile
Starting level pilot earnings begin at:
$86.19 per hour
$179,270 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Pilot salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | $99,280 |
| Missouri | $97,680 |
| West Virginia | $89,650 |
| Wyoming | $80,630 |
| Montana | $71,030 |
| Puerto Rico | $66,760 |
| Georgia | $618,090 |
| Idaho | $507,640 |
| Michigan | $428,570 |
| California | $353,900 |
| Kentucky | $350,950 |
| Colorado | $307,490 |
| Illinois | $293,490 |
| New York | $255,240 |
| Alaska | $232,140 |
| Washington | $229,900 |
| Arizona | $227,870 |
| Florida | $225,020 |
| Texas | $215,150 |
| Minnesota | $211,470 |
| Ohio | $204,170 |
| Connecticut | $199,870 |
| Nevada | $192,460 |
| Utah | $174,590 |
| Oregon | $173,190 |
| Indiana | $171,260 |
| Arkansas | $168,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $164,990 |
| Rhode Island | $164,880 |
| North Carolina | $151,540 |
| Maine | $147,930 |
| Kansas | $143,580 |
| Mississippi | $143,580 |
| South Carolina | $143,580 |
| Tennessee | $143,580 |
| Alabama | $136,990 |
| New Mexico | $136,990 |
| Oklahoma | $133,680 |
| Iowa | $131,730 |
| Nebraska | $131,650 |
| Louisiana | $120,740 |
| North Dakota | $116,470 |
| Wisconsin | $108,150 |
How do pilot salaries compare to similar careers?
Pilots earn 55% more than similar careers in California. On average, they make more than shipmates.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Pilot salary | $354K |
| Commercial pilot salary | $166K |
| Air traffic controller salary | $160K |
| Shipmate salary | $110K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)