Transportation · State Rankings

Best US States for Pilots

All 50 states + DC ranked by Pilot salary. State tax structure noted for take-home math.

Top 10 states by salary

#	State	Estimated salary	Cost mult.	State tax
1	New Jersey	$162,300	1.13×	~5% effective
2	Maryland	$157,100	1.08×	~5% effective
3	Alaska	$155,000	1.13×	No state tax
4	District of Columbia	$152,800	1.20×	~5% effective
5	Washington	$152,000	1.10×	No state tax
6	Virginia	$151,800	1.03×	~5% effective
7	California	$150,900	1.18×	~5% effective
8	Nevada	$150,800	1.02×	No state tax
9	Illinois	$148,700	1.00×	~5% effective
10	Hawaii	$148,100	1.15×	~5% effective

All 51 states + DC, ranked

#	State	Salary	After state tax (rough)
1	New Jersey	$162,300	$119,047
2	Maryland	$157,100	$115,233
3	Alaska	$155,000	$121,443
4	District of Columbia	$152,800	$112,079
5	Washington	$152,000	$119,092
6	Virginia	$151,800	$111,345
7	California	$150,900	$110,685
8	Nevada	$150,800	$118,152
9	Illinois	$148,700	$109,071
10	Hawaii	$148,100	$108,631
11	New York	$148,100	$108,631
12	Colorado	$147,000	$107,825
13	Oregon	$147,000	$107,825
14	Massachusetts	$145,300	$106,578
15	Connecticut	$143,400	$105,184
16	Georgia	$142,500	$104,524
17	Florida	$142,000	$111,257
18	South Carolina	$140,400	$102,983
19	Indiana	$139,400	$102,250
20	Texas	$139,100	$108,985
21	New Hampshire	$138,700	$108,671
22	Rhode Island	$136,800	$100,343
23	North Carolina	$136,100	$99,829
24	Idaho	$135,000	$99,023
25	Michigan	$135,000	$99,023
26	New Mexico	$134,100	$98,362
27	Tennessee	$134,100	$105,067
28	Arizona	$134,000	$98,289
29	Delaware	$134,000	$98,289
30	Minnesota	$134,000	$98,289
31	Kansas	$133,100	$97,629
32	Ohio	$133,100	$97,629
33	Vermont	$133,100	$97,629
34	Louisiana	$132,100	$96,895
35	Missouri	$132,100	$96,895
36	Maine	$131,200	$96,235
37	Pennsylvania	$131,200	$96,235
38	Utah	$131,200	$96,235
39	Alabama	$130,100	$95,428
40	Kentucky	$130,100	$95,428
41	Oklahoma	$130,100	$95,428
42	Montana	$127,400	$93,448
43	Wisconsin	$127,400	$93,448
44	Wyoming	$127,400	$99,818
45	North Dakota	$126,500	$92,788
46	Nebraska	$125,600	$92,128
47	South Dakota	$125,600	$98,408
48	Iowa	$124,600	$91,394
49	Arkansas	$120,900	$88,680
50	West Virginia	$120,900	$88,680
51	Mississippi	$119,000	$87,287

After-state-tax estimate uses federal ~14% + FICA 7.65% + state ~5% (or 0% in no-tax states).

What moves with you and what does not

State lines matter more for Pilot than for most occupations, because the work requires FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate; airline jobs require an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate. A license is issued by one state and recognized by others only where a reciprocity agreement exists. Before treating any state on this list as reachable, check what its board requires of an out-of-state Pilot — the answer ranges from a form to a full re-examination.

Tax and what the numbers are worth

Income tax reshuffles this ranking. Alaska, Washington, Nevada appear in the top ten and levy no state income tax, so the gross figures understate take-home there by roughly 3–6% relative to a taxing state at the same salary. Against a high-tax state, that is worth several thousand dollars a year at this occupation's median of $134,000.

No state funds itself on nothing. The income-tax advantage in these states typically shows up again as higher property or sales tax, which changes the calculation depending on whether you rent, own, and how much you spend.

The spread from Mississippi ($119,000) to New Jersey ($162,300) is 36%. Cost of living explains most of it — a state paying 25% above the national median for this role usually costs proportionally more to live in, which is why cost-adjusted rankings look different from nominal ones.

Where the field is heading

Nationally, Pilot employment is projected to grow — 4% through 2034, with roughly 18,200 openings a year counting replacements. Growth is rarely evenly distributed: states with the industry concentration driving that growth will feel it first, and the ranking above is a reasonable proxy for where.

Salaries are modelled from BLS national medians adjusted for local price level at a wage elasticity below 1 — pay rises with local costs but not proportionally. See our methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which state pays the most for Pilots?▾

Based on cost-of-living-adjusted estimates, New Jersey pays the most with an estimated median of $162,300/year for Pilots. High-cost states (CA, NY, MA, HI) tend to top the list because employers compensate for local cost of living.

Do no-state-tax states pay better effective?▾

Often yes after taxes. Alaska, Washington, Nevada, Florida, Texas have no state income tax. A 5% state tax savings on $100K = $5,000 more take-home. But verify cost of living too — Texas pays well and has no tax, but Houston/Austin housing has risen dramatically.

Why do some states pay so much more?▾

Three factors: (1) cost of living — coastal states cost 15-25% more, employers adjust pay; (2) employer concentration — CA dominates tech, NY finance, MA biotech; (3) regulatory environment — some states have higher unionization or licensing requirements that increase wages.

Are these salaries net or gross?▾

Gross — before federal income tax (~14% effective at this income), FICA (7.65%), state income tax (varies), and local taxes if applicable. Use our state-specific Paycheck Calculator for exact take-home in any state.

How does experience affect these numbers?▾

These are medians — entry-level often runs 25-35% below median, senior roles 40-60%+ above. A senior Pilot in New Jersey can easily exceed $243,450, while an entry-level role in a low-cost state might be $83,300.