Commercial Pilots pay range in Modesto
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $309,300 or more. The middle half of commercial pilots in Modesto earn between $81,060 and $235,370.
- $64K10th
- $81K25th
- $141KMedian
- $235K75th
- $309K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $176,410 | $14,701 | — |
| Median | $140,920 | $11,743 | — |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,060 | $6,755 | — |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $235,370 | $19,614 | — |
*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 Modesto vs. California and the U.S.
Commercial pilots in Modesto earn 13% less than the California average ($202,040) and 21% more than the U.S. average ($146,080). At the median the gap is +14% against the U.S. median of $123,220.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto | $176,410 | $140,920 | $64,290 | $309,300 | 50 |
| 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 Modesto
On the average salary of $176,410, a single filer in Modesto takes home about $119,528 a year, or $9,961 a month and $4,597 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% 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 Modesto a good place for commercial pilots? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Modesto area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 104.1), so the average $176,410 buys what about $169,449 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Modesto ($50,610). A typical home costs $468,302, or 2.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Commercial Pilots salary in other California cities
Modesto ranks 4th 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
- Sacramento$146,350
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 Modesto: questions
What is the entry-level commercial pilots salary in Modesto?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,060, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the commercial pilots take-home pay in Modesto?
About $119,528 a year ($9,961 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $176,410. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do commercial pilots earn more in Modesto than elsewhere?
The average here is 21% more 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 Modesto, CA (33700). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 12.0%.
- 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 0.76, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.76).
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