Commercial Pilots salary in California
The median commercial pilots in California earns $165,590 a year, 34% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $9,405 a month.
- 10th percentile
- $63,890
- 25th percentile
- $85,020
- Median percentile
- $165,590
- 75th percentile
- $278,940
- 90th percentile
- $500,170
Based on 4,900 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.
What you keep
$112,855 take-home a year
| Gross pay | $165,590 |
| Federal income tax | −$28,476 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$12,668 |
| California income tax (approx.) | −$11,591 |
| Monthly take-home | $9,405 |
| Every two weeks | $4,341 |
Does it go far here?
$149,557Median pay in California is worth this at average US prices (local price level 110.7 vs 100).
22%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,036 a month, Census ACS).
Top-paying jobs in California
| Job | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $400,150 |
| Neurologists | $357,080 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $353,900 |
| Psychiatrists | $353,500 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $313,890 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $301,240 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $292,410 |
| Physicians, All Other | $281,590 |
All commercial pilots salaries · Take-home pay in California