Airline pilots: Salary, career path, job outlook, education and more
Airline pilots work primarily for airlines that transport passengers and cargo on a fixed schedule. The captain or pilot in command, usually the most experienced pilot, supervises all other crew members and has primary responsibility for the flight. The copilot, often called the first officer or second in command, shares flight duties with the captain. Some older planes require a third pilot known as a flight engineer, who monitors instruments and operates controls. Technology has automated many of these tasks, and new aircraft do not require flight engineers.
- Education Required
- Airline pilots typically need a bachelors degree in any subject, along with a commercial pilots license and an ATP certificate from the FAA. Airline pilots typically start their careers flying as commercial pilots. Commercial pilots usually accrue thousands of hours of flight experience in order to get a job with regional or major airlines.
- Training Required
- Airline and commercial pilots who are newly hired by airlines or on-demand air services companies undergo on-the-job training in accordance with Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs). This training usually includes 68 weeks of ground school. Various types of ratings for specific aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 or Cessna Citation, typically are acquired through employer-based training and generally are earned by pilots who have at least a commercial license.
- Job Outlook
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The projected percent change in employment from 2016 to 2026: 4% (Slower than average)
(The average growth rate for all occupations is 7 percent.) - Advancement
- Commercial pilots may advance to airline pilots after completing a degree, accruing required flight time, and obtaining an ATP license.
- Licenses/Certifications
- Those who are seeking a career as a professional pilot typically get their licenses and ratings in the following order:
- Median pay: How much do Airline and Commercial Pilots make?
- $105,720 Annual Salary
Careers for Airline and Commercial Pilots
- Aerial crop dusters
- Aerial hurricane hunters
- Aerial photography pilots
- Aerial sprayers
- Agricultural pilots
- Air ambulance captains
- Air tour pilots
- Aircraft pilots
- Aircraft pilots and flight engineers
- Airline captains
- Airline pilot flight instructors
- Airline pilot in command
- Airline pilot second in command
- Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
- Airline transport pilots
- Balloon pilots
- Captains
- Charter pilots (air transport pilot certificate required)
- Charter pilots (airline)
- Charter pilots (commercial pilot certificate required)
- Charter pilots (commercial)
- Commercial helicopter pilots
- Commercial pilots
- Corporate pilots
- EMS helicopter pilots
- Emergency medical service helicopter pilots
- Emergency medical service rotary wing pilots
- Executive pilots
- Flight instructors
- Flight instructors (commercial pilots)
- Helicopter pilots
- Pilots
- Regional airline pilots