Best cities for a test pilot

The best cities for test pilots are Reno, NV, San Francisco, CA, and Las Vegas, NV, based on factors like average salary and job availability per capita. Jobs and pay for test pilots vary across the country, but we've determined the ten best cities for test pilots in the U.S.

Whether you're starting your career as a test pilot or considering a move, this list of the best cities for test pilots to live in will help you decide. These aren't just the best-paying cities for test pilots. We also consider how easy it is to find work as a test pilot. While the absolute best city for test pilots is Reno, NV, there are plenty of other great places to consider.

Keep reading to learn more about the best cities for test pilots in 2024.

If you're looking for a test pilot job, here are five companies hiring now:

10 best cities for test pilots in 2026

1. Reno, NV

Total test pilot jobs:	1
Average annual salary:	$117,789
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$76,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$182,000
Location quotient:	2.76

2. San Francisco, CA

Total test pilot jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$137,593
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$90,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$208,000
Location quotient:	0.00

3. Las Vegas, NV

Total test pilot jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$111,188
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$71,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$172,000
Location quotient:	0.00

4. Oakland, CA

Total test pilot jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$137,266
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$90,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$208,000
Location quotient:	0.00

5. North Las Vegas, NV

Total test pilot jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$110,856
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$71,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$172,000
Location quotient:	0.00

6. Fremont, CA

Total test pilot jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$136,865
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$90,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$208,000
Location quotient:	0.00

7. Henderson, NV

Total test pilot jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$110,290
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$70,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$171,000
Location quotient:	0.00

8. San Jose, CA

Total test pilot jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$136,654
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$89,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$207,000
Location quotient:	0.00

9. Stockton, CA

Total test pilot jobs:	0
Average annual salary:	$135,692
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$88,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$207,000
Location quotient:	0.00

10. Wichita, KS

Total test pilot jobs:	21
Average annual salary:	$97,868
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$64,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$149,000
Location quotient:	51.33

Choose from 10+ customizable test pilot resume templates

Choose from a variety of easy-to-use test pilot resume templates and get expert advice from Zippia’s AI resume writer along the way. Using pre-approved templates, you can rest assured that the structure and format of your test pilot resume is top notch. Choose a template with the colors, fonts & text sizes that are appropriate for your industry.

Best cities for test pilots

Reno, NV
San Francisco, CA
Las Vegas, NV
Oakland, CA
North Las Vegas, NV
Fremont, CA
Henderson, NV
San Jose, CA
Stockton, CA
Wichita, KS

(1 test pilot jobs)
(0 test pilot jobs)
(0 test pilot jobs)
(0 test pilot jobs)
(0 test pilot jobs)
(0 test pilot jobs)
(0 test pilot jobs)
(0 test pilot jobs)
(0 test pilot jobs)
(21 test pilot jobs)

Detailed list of the best cities for a test pilot

Rank	City	Average salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job count
1	Reno, NV	$117,789	$76,000	245,255	1
2	San Francisco, CA	$137,593	$90,000	870,887	-
3	Las Vegas, NV	$111,188	$71,000	632,912	-
4	Oakland, CA	$137,266	$90,000	420,005	-
5	North Las Vegas, NV	$110,856	$71,000	238,702	-
6	Fremont, CA	$136,865	$90,000	233,136	-
7	Henderson, NV	$110,290	$70,000	292,969	-
8	San Jose, CA	$136,654	$89,000	1,025,350	-
9	Stockton, CA	$135,692	$88,000	307,072	-
10	Wichita, KS	$97,868	$64,000	389,902	21
11	Sacramento, CA	$135,501	$88,000	495,234	-
12	Jersey City, NJ	$118,632	$83,000	264,152	-
13	Newark, NJ	$118,505	$83,000	281,764	-
14	Fresno, CA	$132,964	$86,000	522,053	-
15	Bakersfield, CA	$129,877	$85,000	376,380	-
16	Hempstead, NY	$119,150	$83,000	759,757	-
17	Brookhaven, NY	$119,615	$84,000	486,040	-
18	Oyster Bay, NY	$119,148	$83,000	293,214	-
19	Islip, NY	$119,521	$84,000	335,543	-
20	New York, NY	$118,791	$83,000	8,537,673	-
21	Los Angeles, CA	$124,360	$81,000	3,976,322	-
22	Long Beach, CA	$122,722	$80,000	470,130	-
23	Santa Ana, CA	$121,809	$79,000	334,217	-
24	Buffalo, NY	$111,379	$77,000	256,902	2
25	Toledo, OH	$86,434	$58,000	278,508	-
26	Anaheim, CA	$122,327	$80,000	351,043	-
27	Riverside, CA	$121,420	$79,000	324,722	-
28	Irvine, CA	$121,263	$79,000	266,122	-
29	Cleveland, OH	$88,140	$60,000	385,809	-
30	Columbus, OH	$86,167	$58,000	860,090	-
31	New Orleans, LA	$95,957	$63,000	391,495	-
32	Lexington, KY	$89,216	$60,000	318,449	-
33	Portland, OR	$105,119	$67,000	639,863	-
34	El Paso, TX	$95,617	$62,000	683,080	-
35	Louisville, KY	$87,725	$59,000	597,337	-
36	San Diego, CA	$115,850	$76,000	1,406,630	-
37	Albuquerque, NM	$91,553	$59,000	559,277	-
38	Chula Vista, CA	$115,057	$75,000	267,172	-
39	Jacksonville, FL	$97,473	$65,000	880,619	-
40	Orlando, FL	$96,312	$63,000	277,173	-
41	San Antonio, TX	$91,396	$60,000	1,492,510	-
42	Tampa, FL	$96,225	$63,000	377,165	-
43	Dallas, TX	$89,099	$58,000	1,317,929	4
44	Anchorage, AK	$99,144	$69,000	298,192	-
45	Saint Petersburg, FL	$96,095	$63,000	260,999	-
46	Lubbock, TX	$91,169	$59,000	252,506	-
47	Nashville, TN	$84,551	$57,000	660,388	-
48	Austin, TX	$91,159	$60,000	947,890	-
49	Laredo, TX	$90,894	$59,000	257,156	-
50	Arlington, TX	$89,316	$58,000	392,772	-

Highest paying cities for test pilots

Rank	City	Avg. test pilot salary
1	Mountain View, CA	$137,090
2	Reno, NV	$117,789
3	Niagara Falls, NY	$111,090
4	Tacoma, WA	$100,602
5	Helena, MT	$99,790
6	Cheyenne, WY	$98,291
7	Wichita, KS	$97,868
8	Urban Honolulu, HI	$97,584
9	Shreveport, LA	$95,350
10	San Antonio, TX	$91,396
11	Baltimore, MD	$90,482
12	Centennial, CO	$90,096
13	Phoenix, AZ	$89,860
14	Newport News, VA	$82,910
15	Meridian, MS	$76,680
16	Springfield, MO	$73,147
17	Gary, IN	$70,672
18	Duluth, MN	$66,841
19	Huntsville, AL	$66,261