Pilot
What they Do
Airline and commercial pilots fly and navigate airplanes, helicopters, and other aircraft Pilots plan their flights by checking that the aircraft is operable and safe, that the cargo has been loaded correctly, and that weather conditions are acceptable. They file flight plans with air traffic control and may modify the plans in flight because of changing weather conditions or other factors.
Work Enviroment
Pilots assigned to long-distance routes may experience fatigue and jetlag. Weather conditions may result in turbulence, requiring pilots to change the flying altitude. Flights can be long and flight decks are often sealed, so pilots work in small teams for long periods in close proximity to one another.
How to Become One
Airline pilots typically need a bachelor’s degree and experience as a commercial or military pilot. Commercial pilots typically need flight training, and some employers may require or prefer them to have a degree. Airline and commercial pilots also must have specific certificates and ratings from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Pay
The median annual wage for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers was $226,600 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $98,560, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $239,200.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of airline and commercial pilots is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 18,200 openings for airline and commercial pilots are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Simalar Occupations
- Air Traffic Controllers
- Water Transportation Workers
- Certified Flight Instructo
- Aerial Firefighter or Air Medic