Quick answer:Commercial Pilots in the San Francisco area earn a median $173,070 per year, above the national median of $123,220, and the metro employs about 380 of them (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Aviation Pay in San Francisco, CA
Metric
San Francisco metro
California
National
Median annual wage
$173,070
$165,590
$123,220
10th percentile
$83,500
$63,890
$58,850
25th percentile
$120,380
$85,020
$84,540
75th percentile
$238,310
$278,940
$190,440
90th percentile
$304,250
$500,170
$266,620
Employment
380
4,900
47,630
Location quotient
0.52
-
1.00
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metropolitan statistical area.
What the Numbers Say About This Market
The San Francisco median of $173,070 is above the national median of $123,220, and above the California statewide median of $165,590 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 0.52 means commercial pilots are less concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Pilot employment concentrates around airline hubs, cargo operations and corporate aviation bases rather than following population.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Aviation is federally regulated rather than state licensed. The FAA issues pilot certificates and ratings, and the requirements are national and uniform - which makes this one of the few credentials on the site that does not vary by state. Programs may hold AABI accreditation, and some hold FAA authority that reduces the flight hours required for an airline transport certificate.
See the California licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with the FAA and the flight schools you are considering.
Schools Near You
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
How We Rank Schools
We first gather the schools closest to the city or state page you are viewing, then rank that
local group by BOC Score, with the highest at the top. The BOC Score is computed from federal
IPEDS and College Scorecard data; schools without enough data to score appear last.
LOCAL RANK
Location / proximity to this page
Defines the local group
Graduation rate
30%
Median earnings, 10 years after entry
25%
Average net price (lower is better)
20%
Retention rate
15%
Fully online availability
10%
Schools without enough federal outcome data appear after ranked schools, without a score.
Advertising never affects these rankings. Read the full methodology.
How much do commercial pilots make in San Francisco?
The median annual wage for commercial pilots in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $173,070, above the national median of $123,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
How many commercial pilots work in the San Francisco area?
The San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area employs about 380 commercial pilots (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Do commercial pilots in San Francisco need a license?
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Aviation is federally regulated rather than state licensed. The FAA issues pilot certificates and ratings, and the requirements are national and uniform - which makes this one of the few credentials on the site that does not vary by state. Programs may hold AABI accreditation, and some hold FAA authority that reduces the flight hours required for an airline transport certificate. Confirm current requirements with the FAA and the flight schools you are considering.
Can I study aviation online from San Francisco?
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies the FAA and the flight schools you are considering.
Is San Francisco a better market than the rest of California?
The San Francisco metro median is $173,070 against a statewide median of $165,590 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Commercial Pilots (SOC 53-2012), national, state and metropolitan estimates
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook - education and licensing requirements
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
