Quick answer: The Flagstaff metro employs about 120 commercial pilots (BLS OEWS, May 2025), and licensing is set at the state level, through the FAA and the flight schools you are considering.
Licensing is a state matter, not a city one. Aviation is federally regulated rather than state licensed. The FAA issues pilot certificates and ratings, and the requirements are national and uniform - which makes this one of the few credentials on the site that does not vary by state. Programs may hold AABI accreditation, and some hold FAA authority that reduces the flight hours required for an airline transport certificate.
See the Arizona licensing and pay overview for the statewide picture, and confirm current requirements with the FAA and the flight schools you are considering.
Schools in our database near this area, ranked by BOC Score. The list favors schools with a related program on record, but program availability and delivery format change, so confirm directly with any school that it currently offers the program you want.
This page lists 4 schools within 131 miles, nearest first in 25-mile distance bands, then by BOC Score inside each band with the highest at the top. 4 of them carry a score.
Scores come from IPEDS (2024) and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are for all graduates of a school, not one program, so treat them as a signal about the institution rather than about this subject. Sponsored listings are paid placements and are labelled as such; they are separate from this ranking and never change it. Read the full methodology.
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Source: ACCSC IPEDS College Scorecard
Commercial Pilots in the Flagstaff area earn a median $68,460 per year, below the national median of $123,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
| Metric | Flagstaff metro | Arizona | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median annual wage | $68,460 | $103,060 | $123,220 |
| 10th percentile | $38,220 | $64,290 | $58,850 |
| 25th percentile | $54,090 | $93,620 | $84,540 |
| 75th percentile | $103,620 | $133,110 | $190,440 |
| 90th percentile | $130,490 | $201,660 | $266,620 |
| Employment | 120 | 1,540 | 47,630 |
| Location quotient | 5.76 | - | 1.00 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Metro figures cover the Flagstaff, AZ metropolitan statistical area.
The Flagstaff median of $68,460 is below the national median of $123,220, and below the Arizona statewide median of $103,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The metro’s location quotient of 5.76 means commercial pilots are more concentrated here than in the average U.S. labor market (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Higher concentration generally means more employers competing for the same people, and an easier job change later.
Pilot employment concentrates around airline hubs, cargo operations and corporate aviation bases rather than following population.
| Metro area | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $105,770 | 1,020 |
| Tucson | $109,480 | 150 |
Figures: BLS OEWS, May 2025.
Wage and employment figures describe the occupation as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, not the graduates of any particular program, and individual outcomes may vary. Licensing rules change; confirm current requirements with the responsible state board before enrolling.
The median annual wage for commercial pilots in the Flagstaff, AZ metro area is $68,460, below the national median of $123,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
The Flagstaff, AZ metro area employs about 120 commercial pilots (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Licensing is handled at state level rather than by city. Aviation is federally regulated rather than state licensed. The FAA issues pilot certificates and ratings, and the requirements are national and uniform - which makes this one of the few credentials on the site that does not vary by state. Programs may hold AABI accreditation, and some hold FAA authority that reduces the flight hours required for an airline transport certificate. Confirm current requirements with the FAA and the flight schools you are considering.
The academic portion of these programs is widely available online for working adults, while labs, clinical hours or supervised field work are completed in person. Check that the program's accreditation satisfies the FAA and the flight schools you are considering.
The Flagstaff metro median is $68,460 against a statewide median of $103,060 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Compare that gap with the difference in living costs before treating it as a raise.
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
