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Pilots in Washington
29,335 active pilots lived in Washington at the end of 2025, making it the 5th largest pilot population in the country and 3.3% of the US total. Of those, 12,132 were student pilots and 4,942 held a flight instructor certificate.
Active pilots
29,335
#5 nationally
Students
12,132
41% of pilots here
Instructors
4,942
one per 2.5 students
By certificate
Where in Washington
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.
- Seattle1,275
- Vancouver635
- Spokane517
- Gig Harbor431
- Tacoma355
- Bellevue281
- Bellingham268
- Renton261
- Olympia257
- Puyallup242
- Everett221
- Camas213
The people who keep them flying
Washington is home to 12,253 certificated mechanics — one for every 2.4 pilots in the state.
- Mechanic12,253
- Flight Attendant10,421
- Ground Instructor2,951
- Repair men1,701
- Flight Engineer750
- Dispatcher637