diff --git a/changelog/55097.fixed.md b/changelog/55097.fixed.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..06e5e16d826
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/55097.fixed.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Fixed pip.install so a local editable install with a Windows drive-letter path (e.g. C:/path or C:\path) is treated as local and no longer spuriously requires an #egg= fragment.
diff --git a/salt/modules/pip.py b/salt/modules/pip.py
index 6c91910895b..c2f90f983fa 100644
--- a/salt/modules/pip.py
+++ b/salt/modules/pip.py
@@ -953,8 +953,14 @@ def install(
             editable = [e.strip() for e in editable.split(",")]
 
         for entry in editable:
-            # Is the editable local?
-            if not (entry == "." or entry.startswith(("file://", "/"))):
+            # Is the editable local? Accept "." , file:// URLs, POSIX
+            # absolute paths, and Windows drive-letter paths (e.g. C:/foo
+            # or C:\foo).
+            if not (
+                entry == "."
+                or entry.startswith(("file://", "/"))
+                or re.match(r"^[A-Za-z]:[\\/]", entry)
+            ):
                 match = egg_match.search(entry)
 
                 if not match or not match.group(1):
diff --git a/tests/pytests/unit/modules/test_pip.py b/tests/pytests/unit/modules/test_pip.py
index 9873102c231..7f88ab28560 100644
--- a/tests/pytests/unit/modules/test_pip.py
+++ b/tests/pytests/unit/modules/test_pip.py
@@ -200,6 +200,74 @@ def test_install_multiple_editable(python_binary):
         )
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "editable",
+    [
+        "C:\\local-file-path",
+        "C:/local-file-path",
+    ],
+)
+def test_install_editable_local_windows_path_55097(python_binary, editable):
+    """
+    A local Windows editable path (drive letter followed by \\ or /) must be
+    treated as local and must NOT require an #egg= fragment.
+
+    Regression test for issue #55097. install() is the exec-module caller that
+    performs the editable validation; the state module delegates to it. The
+    call shape mirrors test_install_multiple_editable (no egg, default flags).
+    """
+    expected = [*python_binary, "install", *TARGET, "--editable", editable]
+
+    mock = MagicMock(return_value={"retcode": 0, "stdout": ""})
+    with patch.dict(pip.__salt__, {"cmd.run_all": mock}):
+        pip.install(editable=editable)
+        mock.assert_called_with(
+            expected,
+            saltenv="base",
+            runas=None,
+            use_vt=False,
+            python_shell=False,
+        )
+
+
+def test_install_editable_without_egg_still_fails_55097():
+    """
+    Inverse / must-not-regress sibling for issue #55097.
+
+    A remote VCS editable with no #egg= fragment must still raise. A multi-char
+    URL scheme (git+https:) cannot match the single-letter drive prefix, so the
+    Windows-path allowance does not weaken this validation. Passes with and
+    without the fix.
+    """
+    mock = MagicMock(return_value={"retcode": 0, "stdout": ""})
+    with patch.dict(pip.__salt__, {"cmd.run_all": mock}):
+        pytest.raises(
+            CommandExecutionError,
+            pip.install,
+            editable="git+https://github.com/saltstack/salt-testing.git",
+        )
+
+
+def test_install_editable_posix_local_path_55097(python_binary):
+    """
+    Peripheral coverage for issue #55097: a POSIX absolute editable path was
+    already accepted without an #egg= fragment and must remain so.
+    """
+    editable = "/home/user/local-file-path"
+    expected = [*python_binary, "install", *TARGET, "--editable", editable]
+
+    mock = MagicMock(return_value={"retcode": 0, "stdout": ""})
+    with patch.dict(pip.__salt__, {"cmd.run_all": mock}):
+        pip.install(editable=editable)
+        mock.assert_called_with(
+            expected,
+            saltenv="base",
+            runas=None,
+            use_vt=False,
+            python_shell=False,
+        )
+
+
 def test_install_multiple_pkgs_and_editables(python_binary):
     pkgs = ["pep8", "salt"]
     editables = [