Best cities for a flight instructor
The best cities for flight instructors are Stockton, CA, Long Beach, CA, and Greensboro, NC, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for flight instructors vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for flight instructors in the U.S.
Whether you're starting your career as a flight instructor or considering a move, this list of the best cities for flight instructors to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for flight instructors. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a flight instructor. While the absolute best city for flight instructors is Stockton, CA, there are plenty of other great places to consider.
Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for flight instructors in 2024.
If you're looking for a flight instructor job, here are five companies hiring now:
10 best cities for flight instructors in 2026
1. Stockton, CA
Total flight instructor jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $78,144 Lowest 10 percent warn: $44,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $135,000 Location quotient: 7.56 2. Long Beach, CA
Total flight instructor jobs: 4 Average annual salary: $74,664 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $123,000 Location quotient: 8.80 3. Greensboro, NC
Total flight instructor jobs: 1 Average annual salary: $59,436 Lowest 10 percent warn: $36,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $95,000 Location quotient: 1.76 4. San Francisco, CA
Total flight instructor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $79,800 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $139,000 Location quotient: 0.00 5. Oakland, CA
Total flight instructor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $79,509 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $138,000 Location quotient: 0.00 6. Fremont, CA
Total flight instructor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $79,224 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location quotient: 0.00 7. San Jose, CA
Total flight instructor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $79,153 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $137,000 Location quotient: 0.00 8. Detroit, MI
Total flight instructor jobs: 0 Average annual salary: $61,893 Lowest 10 percent warn: $38,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $99,000 Location quotient: 0.00 9. San Diego, CA
Total flight instructor jobs: 6 Average annual salary: $73,731 Lowest 10 percent warn: $45,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $120,000 Location quotient: 1.33 10. El Paso, TX
Total flight instructor jobs: 2 Average annual salary: $53,493 Lowest 10 percent warn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $86,000 Location quotient: 4.71
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Best cities for flight instructors
- Stockton, CA
- Long Beach, CA
- Greensboro, NC
- San Francisco, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Fremont, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Detroit, MI
- San Diego, CA
- El Paso, TX
- (2 flight instructor jobs)
- (4 flight instructor jobs)
- (1 flight instructor jobs)
- (0 flight instructor jobs)
- (0 flight instructor jobs)
- (0 flight instructor jobs)
- (0 flight instructor jobs)
- (0 flight instructor jobs)
- (6 flight instructor jobs)
- (2 flight instructor jobs)
Detailed list of the best cities for a flight instructor
| Rank | City | Average salary | Lowest 10% Earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stockton, CA | $78,144 | $44,000 | 307,072 | 2 |
| 2 | Long Beach, CA | $74,664 | $45,000 | 470,130 | 4 |
| 3 | Greensboro, NC | $59,436 | $36,000 | 287,027 | 1 |
| 4 | San Francisco, CA | $79,800 | $45,000 | 870,887 | - |
| 5 | Oakland, CA | $79,509 | $45,000 | 420,005 | - |
| 6 | Fremont, CA | $79,224 | $45,000 | 233,136 | - |
| 7 | San Jose, CA | $79,153 | $45,000 | 1,025,350 | - |
| 8 | Detroit, MI | $61,893 | $38,000 | 672,795 | - |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | $73,731 | $45,000 | 1,406,630 | 6 |
| 10 | El Paso, TX | $53,493 | $33,000 | 683,080 | 2 |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA | $78,023 | $44,000 | 495,234 | - |
| 12 | Fresno, CA | $76,673 | $44,000 | 522,053 | - |
| 13 | Indianapolis, IN | $50,742 | $32,000 | 855,164 | 4 |
| 14 | Bakersfield, CA | $75,954 | $44,000 | 376,380 | - |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $52,660 | $33,000 | 1,492,510 | 14 |
| 16 | Los Angeles, CA | $74,941 | $45,000 | 3,976,322 | - |
| 17 | Boston, MA | $70,646 | $42,000 | 673,184 | - |
| 18 | Santa Ana, CA | $74,419 | $45,000 | 334,217 | - |
| 19 | Raleigh, NC | $59,933 | $37,000 | 458,880 | - |
| 20 | Anaheim, CA | $74,482 | $44,000 | 351,043 | - |
| 21 | Durham, NC | $59,921 | $37,000 | 263,016 | - |
| 22 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,393 | $35,000 | 1,567,872 | 1 |
| 23 | Fort Worth, TX | $51,686 | $32,000 | 854,113 | 2 |
| 24 | Nashville, TN | $52,024 | $32,000 | 660,388 | - |
| 25 | Irvine, CA | $74,323 | $44,000 | 266,122 | - |
| 26 | Lincoln, NE | $51,249 | $32,000 | 280,364 | 1 |
| 27 | Memphis, TN | $51,697 | $32,000 | 652,717 | - |
| 28 | Riverside, CA | $74,106 | $44,000 | 324,722 | - |
| 29 | Chula Vista, CA | $73,695 | $45,000 | 267,172 | - |
| 30 | Winston-Salem, NC | $59,169 | $36,000 | 242,203 | - |
| 31 | Fort Wayne, IN | $51,440 | $32,000 | 264,488 | - |
| 32 | Dallas, TX | $51,625 | $32,000 | 1,317,929 | 6 |
| 33 | Charlotte, NC | $58,419 | $36,000 | 842,051 | - |
| 34 | Omaha, NE | $51,237 | $32,000 | 446,970 | 1 |
| 35 | Milwaukee, WI | $56,264 | $36,000 | 595,047 | - |
| 36 | Pittsburgh, PA | $54,291 | $33,000 | 303,625 | - |
| 37 | Houston, TX | $52,008 | $32,000 | 2,303,482 | 5 |
| 38 | Minneapolis, MN | $59,781 | $38,000 | 413,651 | - |
| 39 | Saint Louis, MO | $51,506 | $32,000 | 311,404 | 3 |
| 40 | Saint Paul, MN | $59,860 | $39,000 | 302,398 | - |
| 41 | Lexington, KY | $50,478 | $31,000 | 318,449 | - |
| 42 | Madison, WI | $55,530 | $35,000 | 252,551 | - |
| 43 | Austin, TX | $52,331 | $32,000 | 947,890 | - |
| 44 | Louisville, KY | $50,225 | $31,000 | 597,337 | - |
| 45 | Jersey City, NJ | $63,964 | $38,000 | 264,152 | - |
| 46 | Portland, OR | $56,515 | $32,000 | 639,863 | - |
| 47 | Newark, NJ | $63,894 | $38,000 | 281,764 | - |
| 48 | Laredo, TX | $52,872 | $33,000 | 257,156 | - |
| 49 | Lubbock, TX | $51,958 | $32,000 | 252,506 | - |
| 50 | Corpus Christi, TX | $52,598 | $33,000 | 325,733 | - |
Highest paying cities for flight instructors
| Rank | City | Avg. flight instructor salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atwater, CA | $77,485 |
| 2 | Norwood, MA | $71,152 |
| 3 | Duluth, MN | $60,011 |
| 4 | Tupelo, MS | $56,852 |
| 5 | Dubuque, IA | $55,913 |
| 6 | Birmingham, AL | $52,834 |
| 7 | San Antonio, TX | $52,660 |
| 8 | Chesapeake, VA | $51,899 |
| 9 | Grand Forks, ND | $51,527 |
| 10 | Terre Haute, IN | $50,411 |
| 11 | Frankfort, KY | $50,386 |
| 12 | Daytona Beach, FL | $49,876 |
| 13 | Aurora, CO | $46,253 |
| 14 | New Orleans, LA | $45,111 |
| 15 | Columbus, OH | $44,633 |
| 16 | Wichita, KS | $44,321 |
| 17 | Wheeling, IL | $42,602 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $41,181 |
Flight instructor best cities FAQs
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Updated January 8, 2025