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Pilots in Texas
82,454 active pilots lived in Texas at the end of 2025, making it the 2nd largest pilot population in the country and 9.3% of the US total. Of those, 34,177 were student pilots and 14,356 held a flight instructor certificate.
Active pilots
82,454
#2 nationally
Students
34,177
41% of pilots here
Instructors
14,356
one per 2.4 students
By certificate
Where in Texas
Pilots by city of residence, from the August 2026 releasable file. That file omits airmen who decline address release, so treat these as relative weight between cities rather than counts — see methodology.
- Houston1,986
- San Antonio1,703
- Fort Worth1,419
- Austin1,202
- Dallas1,196
- Spring665
- Denton527
- Mckinney474
- El Paso458
- Corpus Christi447
- Arlington396
- Conroe379
The people who keep them flying
Texas is home to 35,534 certificated mechanics — one for every 2.3 pilots in the state.
- Flight Attendant36,439
- Mechanic35,534
- Ground Instructor8,314
- Dispatcher4,442
- Repair men3,824
- Flight Engineer2,311