Pilot Salary in San Francisco (2026)

Typical local-market pay: $117,120/year (COLI estimate No local salary survey for this role — scaled from the US baseline by city COLI. Not market pay.). Lifestyle equivalent of a New York $120,000 salary: $117,120/year (COLI-scaled, not market pay). COLI rank #4 of 113.

Local market
$117,120
COLI estimate No local salary survey for this role — scaled from the US baseline by city COLI. Not market pay.
Lifestyle equivalent
$117,120
COLI 97.6 · NYC $120,000 scaled · not market pay
Take-home (on market pay)
65%
$6,344/mo net
COLI (NYC = 100)
97.6
#4 of 113
NYC baseline
$120,000
mid-career USD

Salary Range in San Francisco

COLI-scaled lifestyle-equivalent range for a pilot in San Francisco (NYC baseline × COLI 97.6 / 100). This is not local market pay.

Entry Level
$48,800
Mid-Career
$117,120
Senior
$244,000

Top Cities for Pilot Salary

Highest COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalents (not local market pay):

City Local market Lifestyle equivalent Take-Home
ZurichCHF 119,008CHF 119,00858%
GenevaCHF 115,313CHF 115,31355%
New York$120,000$120,00064%
SingaporeS$137,097S$137,09778%
London£79,066£79,06668%

See all 113 cities for Pilot →

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Other Jobs in San Francisco

Pilot Salary — Other Cities

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a pilot earn in San Francisco?

Local-market pay for a pilot in San Francisco is approximately $117,120/year (COLI estimate only — not market pay). Separately, the lifestyle equivalent of a New York $120,000 salary is $117,120 (COLI 97.6, NYC = 100). That equivalent is not what someone earns locally. COLI-scaled entry/senior lifestyle equivalents: $48,800 – $244,000.

What is the take-home pay for a pilot in San Francisco?

After income tax and social contributions in United States, a pilot in San Francisco takes home approximately 65% of their gross salary, or around $6,344/month ($76,128/year in USD equivalent).

How does San Francisco rank for pilot salaries globally?

San Francisco ranks #4 out of 113 cities on COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalent for pilots (not local market rank). The top city on that equivalent scale is Zurich.