SOC 53-2011 · Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in Riverside, CA

The average salary for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Riverside, California is $252,590 a year, according to BLS estimates for May 2025. The median is $207,000: half of the 160 people in this job in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area earn more than that, half earn less. That average is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($288,650).

$252,590average per year

Median $207,000Take-home ≈ $165,483

  • $154K10th
  • $166K25th
  • $207KMedian
  • $338K75th
  • $363K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

160people in this job
-12%vs U.S. average
#6 of 6California metros
106cost of living (U.S. = 100)
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Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay range in Riverside

New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $153,630 a year or less, while the top 10% make $363,200 or more. The middle half of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Riverside earn between $166,320 and $337,880.

  • $154K10th
  • $166K25th
  • $207KMedian
  • $338K75th
  • $363K90th

median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it

Pay levelPer yearPer monthPer hour*
Average$252,590$21,049—
Median$207,000$17,250—
Entry level (25th percentile)$166,320$13,860—
Experienced (75th percentile)$337,880$28,157—

*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers pay in Riverside vs. California and the U.S.

Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in Riverside earn 19% less than the California average ($310,190) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($288,650). At the median the gap is -11% against the U.S. median of $232,140.

AreaAverageMedian10th pct.90th pct.Jobs
Riverside$252,590$207,000$153,630$363,200160
California$310,190$353,900$179,270$427,66010,670
United States$288,650$232,140$106,710$463,830103,560

State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary after taxes in Riverside

On the average salary of $252,590, a single filer in Riverside takes home about $165,483 a year, or $13,790 a month and $6,365 every two weeks. Taxes take 34% of gross pay.

Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

California paycheck calculator: try your own salary

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Is Riverside a good place for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers? Pay vs. cost of living

Prices in the Riverside area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.4), so the average $252,590 buys what about $237,303 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 4.3 times the median wage of all jobs in Riverside ($48,400). A typical home costs $585,378, or 2.3 years of this average salary before tax.

See what $252,590 is worth in another city

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in other California cities

Riverside ranks 6th of 6 California metro areas for this job; San Francisco pays the most ($339,750).

All Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salaries in California

Highest-paying cities for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers

Atlanta, GA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($477,580).

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary by city

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Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary in Riverside: questions

What is the entry-level airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers salary in Riverside?

The lowest-paid 10% earn about $153,630 a year and the 25th percentile is $166,320, a fair guide to starting pay.

What is the airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers take-home pay in Riverside?

About $165,483 a year ($13,790 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $252,590. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.

Do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers earn more in Riverside than elsewhere?

The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($288,650).

Sources and how to read this page

  • Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 53-2011; area Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA (40140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.0%.
  • U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
  • Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
  • Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
  • Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
  • Job concentration: location quotient 0.14, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.14).

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