SOC 53-2011 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — California
California · 6 metro areas compared
The median wage for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in California is $353,900 per year, well above the national median of $232,140.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in California is $353,900 per year, well above the national median of $232,140. The gap of 52.5% is among the widest recorded for this occupation. Half of workers earn between $208,070 and $390,260. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $179,270 and the ninetieth at $427,660.
Employment stands at 10,670, or 0.6 jobs per thousand held locally. California ranks number 4th out of 37 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, San Francisco records the highest median at $374,680. Of the 793 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 3rd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $179,270 | −22.8% |
| 25th | $208,070 | −10.4% |
| Median (50th) | $353,900 | +52.5% |
| 75th | $390,260 | +68.1% |
| 90th | $427,660 | +84.2% |
| Mean | $310,190 | +33.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $374,680 | 2,900 | |
| 2 | Los Angeles | $364,730 | 6,710 | |
| 3 | San Jose | $343,140 | 50 | |
| 4 | San Diego | $321,950 | 340 | |
| 5 | Riverside | $207,000 | 160 | |
| 6 | Fresno | $195,310 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in California run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $353,900 buys what $319,693 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 37.7% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$353,900as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$319,693US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $353,900 a year, 52.5% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $179,270 to $427,660 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 10,670 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 4th of 37 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $374,680.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in California?
The median annual wage is $353,900, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $232,140, so pay in California is 52.5% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in California earns more than $427,660 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $179,270 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Francisco, at $374,680 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 10,670 jobs in this occupation in California. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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