Commercial Pilots pay range in Fresno
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $228,310 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Fresno earn between $72,160 and $169,400.
- $49K10th
- $72K25th
- $112KMedian
- $169K75th
- $228K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $125,370 | $10,448 | — |
| Median | $112,000 | $9,333 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $72,160 | $6,013 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $169,400 | $14,117 | — |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year (BLS publishes this job's pay as annual only). Hourly to annual salary.
Commercial Pilots pay in Fresno vs. California and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Fresno earn 38% less than the California average ($202,040) and 14% less than the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is -9% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | $125,370 | $112,000 | $49,290 | $228,310 | 80 |
| California | $202,040 | $165,590 | $63,890 | $500,170 | 4,900 |
| United States | $146,080 | $123,220 | $58,850 | $266,620 | 47,630 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Commercial Pilots salary after taxes in Fresno
On the average salary of $125,370, a single filer in Fresno takes home about $89,389 a year, or $7,449 a month and $3,438 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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.
Is Fresno a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Fresno area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.2), so the average $125,370 buys what about $122,722 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Fresno ($46,910). A typical home costs $409,749, or 3.3 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other California cities
Fresno ranks 14th of 16 California metro areas for this job; Santa Rosa pays the most ($218,810).
- Santa Rosa$218,810
- San Francisco$181,600
- San Jose$177,010
- Modesto$176,410
- Santa Maria$161,510
- San Diego$156,890
- Bakersfield$150,610
- Chico$150,150
- Redding$149,700
- Fresno$125,370
Highest-paying cities for commercial pilots
Waterbury, CT pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($267,680).
- Waterbury, CT$267,680
- Kiryas Joel, NY$226,850
- Bridgeport, CT$226,590
- Santa Rosa, CA$218,810
- Louisville, KY$210,350
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Commercial Pilots salary in Fresno: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Fresno?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $49,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $72,160, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Fresno?
About $89,389 a year ($7,449 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $125,370. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Fresno than elsewhere?
The average here is 14% less than the U.S. average for this job ($146,080).
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 53-2012; area Fresno, CA (23420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.7%.
- 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 0.58, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.58).
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