Best cities for a Pilot

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

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

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

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

10 best cities for Pilots In 2025

1. Las Vegas, NV

Total Pilot jobs:	23
Average annual salary:	$95,788
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$62,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$145,000
Location quotient:	3.88

Pilot Jobs in Las Vegas

2. Reno, NV

Total Pilot jobs:	5
Average annual salary:	$97,849
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$65,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$147,000
Location quotient:	2.64

Pilot Jobs in Reno

3. Laredo, TX

Total Pilot jobs:	4
Average annual salary:	$91,793
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$61,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$137,000
Location quotient:	10.74

4. Newark, NJ

Total Pilot jobs:	7
Average annual salary:	$101,494
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$68,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$151,000
Location quotient:	2.39

Pilot Jobs in Newark

5. Bakersfield, CA

Total Pilot jobs:	3
Average annual salary:	$112,321
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$74,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$168,000
Location quotient:	2.64

Pilot Jobs in Bakersfield

6. El Paso, TX

Total Pilot jobs:	2
Average annual salary:	$95,532
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$63,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$144,000
Location quotient:	1.40

7. San Antonio, TX

Total Pilot jobs:	7
Average annual salary:	$91,110
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$60,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$138,000
Location quotient:	0.95

Pilot Jobs in San Antonio

8. Miami, FL

Total Pilot jobs:	12
Average annual salary:	$90,926
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$60,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$136,000
Location quotient:	1.40

Pilot Jobs in Miami

9. San Francisco, CA

Total Pilot jobs:	10
Average annual salary:	$118,390
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$79,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$176,000
Location quotient:	0.40

10. Oakland, CA

Total Pilot jobs:	1
Average annual salary:	$118,156
Lowest 10 percent warn:	$79,000
Highest 10 percent earn:	$176,000
Location quotient:	0.42

Pilot Jobs in Oakland

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Best cities for pilots

Las Vegas, NV
Reno, NV
Laredo, TX
Newark, NJ
Bakersfield, CA
El Paso, TX
San Antonio, TX
Miami, FL
San Francisco, CA
Oakland, CA

Detailed list of the best cities for a Pilot

Rank	City	Average Salary	Lowest 10% Earn	Population	Job Count
1	Las Vegas, NV	$95,788	$62,000	632,912	23
2	Reno, NV	$97,849	$65,000	245,255	5
3	Laredo, TX	$91,793	$61,000	257,156	4
4	Newark, NJ	$101,494	$68,000	281,764	7
5	Bakersfield, CA	$112,321	$74,000	376,380	3
6	El Paso, TX	$95,532	$63,000	683,080	2
7	San Antonio, TX	$91,110	$60,000	1,492,510	7
8	Miami, FL	$90,926	$60,000	453,579	12
9	San Francisco, CA	$118,390	$79,000	870,887	10
10	Oakland, CA	$118,156	$79,000	420,005	1
11	Los Angeles, CA	$107,374	$71,000	3,976,322	20
12	Phoenix, AZ	$80,157	$53,000	1,615,017	80
13	Houston, TX	$89,327	$58,000	2,303,482	19
14	Portland, OR	$96,073	$64,000	639,863	6
15	Wichita, KS	$80,086	$53,000	389,902	3
16	New Orleans, LA	$84,251	$55,000	391,495	5
17	Sacramento, CA	$116,347	$77,000	495,234	2
18	Austin, TX	$90,447	$59,000	947,890	7
19	Orlando, FL	$89,959	$60,000	277,173	4
20	Albuquerque, NM	$82,351	$54,000	559,277	8
21	North Las Vegas, NV	$95,533	$62,000	238,702	-
22	Cleveland, OH	$77,511	$52,000	385,809	5
23	Toledo, OH	$76,606	$51,000	278,508	2
24	Henderson, NV	$95,343	$62,000	292,969	-
25	Jacksonville, FL	$90,340	$60,000	880,619	4
26	Fremont, CA	$117,809	$79,000	233,136	-
27	Tampa, FL	$90,843	$60,000	377,165	4
28	San Jose, CA	$117,609	$78,000	1,025,350	1
29	Jersey City, NJ	$101,604	$68,000	264,152	1
30	Colorado Springs, CO	$81,872	$53,000	465,101	15
31	Stockton, CA	$117,016	$78,000	307,072	-
32	Corpus Christi, TX	$90,612	$60,000	325,733	-
33	Fresno, CA	$114,809	$76,000	522,053	-
34	Columbus, OH	$75,657	$51,000	860,090	12
35	Brookhaven, NY	$102,682	$68,000	486,040	-
36	Memphis, TN	$75,434	$50,000	652,717	4
37	Islip, NY	$102,502	$68,000	335,543	-
38	New York, NY	$101,730	$68,000	8,537,673	6
39	Oyster Bay, NY	$102,184	$68,000	293,214	-
40	Lubbock, TX	$90,260	$59,000	252,506	-
41	Hempstead, NY	$102,075	$68,000	759,757	-
42	Saint Petersburg, FL	$91,128	$60,000	260,999	-
43	Hialeah, FL	$90,945	$60,000	236,387	-
44	Fort Worth, TX	$86,298	$57,000	854,113	1
45	Urban Honolulu, HI	$93,983	$76,000	351,792	6
46	Dallas, TX	$85,725	$57,000	1,317,929	5
47	Chicago, IL	$81,363	$54,000	2,704,958	25
48	Raleigh, NC	$74,962	$50,000	458,880	5
49	Arlington, TX	$86,148	$57,000	392,772	-
50	Denver, CO	$81,956	$53,000	693,060	15

Highest paying cities for pilots

Rank	City	Avg. Pilot Salary
1	San Francisco, CA	$118,389
2	White Plains, NY	$101,913
3	Pensacola, FL	$91,419
4	San Antonio, TX	$91,110
5	Saint George, UT	$85,802
6	Englewood, CO	$82,083
7	Chicago, IL	$81,363
8	Phoenix, AZ	$80,157
9	Bellingham, WA	$79,378
10	Baltimore, MD	$76,793
11	Toledo, OH	$76,606
12	Jacksonville, NC	$75,223
13	Norfolk, VA	$70,269
14	Detroit, MI	$68,234
15	Atlanta, GA	$65,666
16	Philadelphia, PA	$64,250
17	Mobile, AL	$58,972
18	Eden Prairie, MN	$58,262