If you are a pilot looking to find your perfect new home state, take a look at our list of the 15 best states for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers.
So, what exactly do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers do? In short, they fly the airplanes that get us from place to place safely. Though much of modern airline flight has become automated, these professionals must remain vigilant in order to alter routes or avoid obstacles to keep their passengers and cargo safe.
Becoming an airline pilot requires a great deal of education and training. While some positions require a degree or several years of collegiate education, training is more of a focus for prospective pilots. Pilots-in-training are required to undergo 250 intense and goal-specific hours as a private pilot before they can become licensed. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of an airline pilot is about $127,820 per year. Not only must you be able to meet these training requirements, but you must also pass very strict mental and physical tests. For instance, you must be in peak physical health and have perfect vision. Work as a pilot is always unpredictable. Hours can be all of the place, weather can impact your entire week, and you have to act as a PR person for unhappy passengers.
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If you are interested in working in a slightly different field, you can also check our list of 25 best states for aircraft mechanics and service technicians.
Deciding which states qualify as the best states for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers is not a simple task. Different factors matter more to different people. We decided to consult the Bureau of Labor Statistics for information on the average mean wage and the number of employed airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers in each state. We then sourced information on the cost of living index from Missouri Economic Research And Information Center. Considering all of these factors, we were able to sort our list.
It is not enough for a state to simply have a high average salary. It must also be considered that the number of working professionals in this field in the state may affect the number of job positions that are open to newcomers. On the other side of that argument, more employed airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers points to the possibility of a more steady stream of work available. The cost of living index can also not be considered alone. It is great to have a low cost of living, but this only matters if your salary is also not super low. A low cost of living paired with a high salary is the most advantageous situation. States falling into this category made the top of our list.
Without further ado, here is our list of 15 best states for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers.
15. North Carolina
Cost of living index: 94.2
Annual mean wage: $96,940
Hourly mean wage: $46.60
Number of employees: 2,580
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14. Mississippi
Cost of living index: 86
Annual mean wage: $89,750
Hourly mean wage: $43.14
Number of employees: 200
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13. Minnesota
Cost of living index: 101.1
Annual mean wage: $105,700
Hourly mean wage: $50.81
Number of employees: 2,980
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12. Ohio
Cost of living index: 93
Annual mean wage: $98,310
Hourly mean wage: $47.26
Number of employees: 1,140
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11. Iowa
Cost of living index: 91.7
Annual mean wage: $98,120
Hourly mean wage: $47.17
Number of employees: 50
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10. Alabama
Cost of living index: 91.2
Annual mean wage: $100,790
Hourly mean wage: $48.45
Number of employees: 310
9. Louisiana
Cost of living index: 94.4
Annual mean wage: $110,600
Hourly mean wage: $53.17
Number of employees: 110
8. Arizona
Cost of living index: 98.1
Annual mean wage: $117,160
Hourly mean wage: $56.32
Number of employees: 2,910
7. California
Cost of living index: 123.8
Annual mean wage: $118,480
Hourly mean wage: $90.61
Number of employees: 8,290
We’re halfway through our list of best states for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers, and for the other half click next.
6. Indiana
Cost of living index: 87.9
Annual mean wage: $124,780
Hourly mean wage: $59.99
Number of employees: 710
5. Illinois
Cost of living index: 95.5
Annual mean wage: $142,230
Hourly mean wage: $69.37
Number of employees: 7,350
4. Florida
Cost of living index: 99
Annual mean wage: $165,660
Hourly mean wage: $79.64
Number of employees: 4,640
3. Washington
Cost of living index: 107.1
Annual mean wage: $199,560
Hourly mean wage: $95.94
Number of employees: 2,120
2. Colorado
Cost of living index: 102.1
Annual mean wage: $207,680
Hourly mean wage: $99.84
Number of employees: 2,980
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1. Texas
Cost of living index: 90.7
Annual mean wage: $199,610
Hourly mean wage: $95.96
Number of employees: 10,590
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This was our list of 15 best states for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers. We hope we managed to show you some great options, and what you should expect from each state when deciding where to move.
