Best states for an airline pilot

Q: What is the best state for airline pilots?

The best state to be an airline pilot is Oregon based on airline pilot salaries and job opportunities.

Q: What is the highest paying state for airline pilots?

The highest paying state for airline pilots is Indiana based on Zippia’s salary database.

Q: What is the worst state for airline pilots?

The worst state for airline pilots is Illinois, due to a combination of low salaries and few job opportunities.

Quoted expert

Russ Leighton

Rank 1 - 10
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Are you thinking of becoming an airline pilot and really want to work at SkyWest Airlines? Turns out, your chances to become an airline pilot are better in some states than others.Turns out, the median salary for the highest 10% of airline pilots in America is $110,000.

Oregon is the best state for jobs for airline pilots, and Illinois is the worst. The most common pay in Oregon is $117,208, while the median pay in Illinois is $74,095.We found that Oregon is the best state for airline pilot jobs, whereas Illinois is the worst.

10 best states for airline pilots in 2025

1. Oregon
Total airline pilot jobs: 17
Average annual salary: $117,208
Lowest 10 percent earn: $84,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $162,000
Location Quotient:
1.48
Airline pilot jobs in Oregon
2. Alabama
Total airline pilot jobs: 25
Average annual salary: $97,630
Lowest 10 percent earn: $73,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000
Location Quotient:
2.05
Airline pilot jobs in Alabama
3. Nevada
Total airline pilot jobs: 15
Average annual salary: $97,176
Lowest 10 percent earn: $68,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $136,000
Location Quotient:
2.59
Airline pilot jobs in Nevada
4. Florida
Total airline pilot jobs: 63
Average annual salary: $97,184
Lowest 10 percent earn: $72,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $129,000
Location Quotient:
1.46
Airline pilot jobs in Florida
5. Alaska
Total airline pilot jobs: 6
Average annual salary: $95,636
Lowest 10 percent earn: $76,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000
Location Quotient:
2.59
Airline pilot jobs in Alaska
6. Montana
Total airline pilot jobs: 3
Average annual salary: $99,101
Lowest 10 percent earn: $69,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $140,000
Location Quotient:
0.94
Airline pilot jobs in Montana
7. Virginia
Total airline pilot jobs: 26
Average annual salary: $101,654
Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $131,000
Location Quotient:
1
Airline pilot jobs in Virginia
8. Hawaii
Total airline pilot jobs: 7
Average annual salary: $105,147
Lowest 10 percent earn: $88,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $125,000
Location Quotient:
3.02
Airline pilot jobs in Hawaii
9. Texas
Total airline pilot jobs: 57
Average annual salary: $95,442
Lowest 10 percent earn: $70,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $130,000
Location Quotient:
1.02
Airline pilot jobs in Texas
10. Pennsylvania
Total airline pilot jobs: 11
Average annual salary: $102,342
Lowest 10 percent earn: $78,000
Highest 10 percent earn: $133,000
Location Quotient:
0.34
Airline pilot jobs in Pennsylvania

Airline pilot jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an airline pilot

You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.

Detailed list of the best states for an airline pilot

Rank	State	Average salary	Lowest 10% earn	Population	Job count
1	Oregon	$117,208	$84,000	4,142,776	17
2	Alabama	$97,630	$73,000	4,874,747	25
3	Nevada	$97,176	$68,000	2,998,039	15
4	Florida	$97,184	$72,000	20,984,400	63
5	Alaska	$95,636	$76,000	739,795	6
6	Montana	$99,101	$69,000	1,050,493	3
7	Virginia	$101,654	$78,000	8,470,020	26
8	Hawaii	$105,147	$88,000	1,427,538	7
9	Texas	$95,442	$70,000	28,304,596	57
10	Pennsylvania	$102,342	$78,000	12,805,537	11
11	Minnesota	$97,058	$73,000	5,576,606	16
12	North Carolina	$99,623	$77,000	10,273,419	16
13	Utah	$91,667	$64,000	3,101,833	15
14	South Carolina	$89,860	$69,000	5,024,369	26
15	Wyoming	$100,360	$71,000	579,315	0
16	Louisiana	$91,250	$67,000	4,684,333	13
17	New Jersey	$96,631	$74,000	9,005,644	18
18	Iowa	$89,122	$66,000	3,145,711	14
19	Kansas	$88,812	$66,000	2,913,123	12
20	Colorado	$89,978	$65,000	5,607,154	30
21	West Virginia	$90,373	$69,000	1,815,857	2
22	Ohio	$89,558	$68,000	11,658,609	19
23	New York	$96,587	$74,000	19,849,399	17
24	Kentucky	$88,362	$67,000	4,454,189	7
25	New Mexico	$83,061	$60,000	2,088,070	12
26	Mississippi	$84,851	$63,000	2,984,100	8
27	South Dakota	$88,121	$65,000	869,666	1
28	Idaho	$82,078	$58,000	1,716,943	9
29	California	$89,844	$63,000	39,536,653	98
30	Nebraska	$81,635	$60,000	1,920,076	8
31	Maryland	$88,344	$67,000	6,052,177	18
32	Missouri	$82,302	$61,000	6,113,532	23
33	North Dakota	$77,782	$58,000	755,393	6
34	Oklahoma	$77,637	$57,000	3,930,864	26
35	Arizona	$80,378	$58,000	7,016,270	21
36	Washington	$87,822	$62,000	7,405,743	9
37	Delaware	$82,920	$63,000	961,939	3
38	Massachusetts	$82,717	$65,000	6,859,819	20
39	Rhode Island	$83,146	$65,000	1,059,639	0
40	Connecticut	$83,198	$64,000	3,588,184	6
41	District of Columbia	$82,003	$62,000	693,972	6
42	New Hampshire	$81,941	$64,000	1,342,795	2
43	Michigan	$79,140	$60,000	9,962,311	9
44	Arkansas	$76,836	$57,000	3,004,279	5
45	Tennessee	$77,801	$59,000	6,715,984	6
46	Georgia	$78,595	$59,000	10,429,379	19
47	Vermont	$80,627	$63,000	623,657	0
48	Indiana	$70,914	$54,000	6,666,818	13
49	Wisconsin	$71,550	$54,000	5,795,483	11
50	Maine	$73,298	$58,000	1,335,907	2
51	Illinois	$74,095	$56,000	12,802,023	15

Highest paying states for airline pilots

Rank	State	Avg. Airline Pilot Salary
1	Oregon	$117,208
2	Alabama	$97,630
3	Nevada	$97,176
4	Florida	$97,184
5	Alaska	$95,636
6	Montana	$99,101
7	Virginia	$101,654
8	Hawaii	$105,147
9	Texas	$95,442
10	Pennsylvania	$102,342
11	Minnesota	$97,058
12	North Carolina	$99,623
13	Utah	$91,667
14	South Carolina	$89,860
15	Wyoming	$100,360
16	Louisiana	$91,250
17	New Jersey	$96,631
18	Iowa	$89,122
19	Kansas	$88,812
20	Colorado	$89,978
21	West Virginia	$90,373
22	Ohio	$89,558
23	New York	$96,587
24	Kentucky	$88,362
25	New Mexico	$83,061
26	Mississippi	$84,851
27	South Dakota	$88,121
28	Idaho	$82,078
29	California	$89,844
30	Nebraska	$81,635
31	Maryland	$88,344
32	Missouri	$82,302
33	North Dakota	$77,782
34	Oklahoma	$77,637
35	Arizona	$80,378
36	Washington	$87,822
37	Delaware	$82,920
38	Massachusetts	$82,717
39	Rhode Island	$83,146
40	Connecticut	$83,198
41	District of Columbia	$82,003
42	New Hampshire	$81,941
43	Michigan	$79,140
44	Arkansas	$76,836
45	Tennessee	$77,801
46	Georgia	$78,595
47	Vermont	$80,627
48	Indiana	$70,914
49	Wisconsin	$71,550
50	Maine	$73,298
51	Illinois	$74,095

Expert opinions on the best states for airline pilots

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for airline pilots to find work opportunities?
Russ Leighton
Vice President/Director of Safety, CAPA
The cargo airline sector is the least affected by the pandemic, so far. In fact, they have gained business during this time period. Entry-level pilot jobs at small cargo airlines will be today’s graduate’s best opportunities to break into the professional pilot career. Large cargo airlines like UPS, FedEx, DHL, and Amazon will become the more sought-after, long-term careers due to the stability they offer.

Best states for an airline pilot

10 best states for airline pilots in 2025

1. Oregon

2. Alabama

3. Nevada

4. Florida

5. Alaska

6. Montana

7. Virginia

8. Hawaii

9. Texas

10. Pennsylvania

Airline pilot jobsNear Columbus, OH

How Zippia determines the best states to be an airline pilot

Detailed list of the best states for an airline pilot

Highest paying states for airline pilots

Expert opinions on the best states for airline pilots

Are there any particularly good places in the United States for airline pilots to find work opportunities?

Airline pilot best states FAQs

What is the best state for airline pilots?

What is the highest paying state for airline pilots?

What is the worst state for airline pilots?

Search for airline pilot jobs

Total airline pilot jobs:	17
Average annual salary:	$117,208
Lowest 10 percent earn:	$84,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$162,000
Location Quotient:	1.48