Home / Career Explorer / Transportation

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)	Projected Growth (2024-2034)
National Statistics	$226600	11700	3.9%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$226600

Median Wage (USD, 2024)

11700

Projected Job Openings (2024-2034)

3.9%

Projected Growth (2024-2034)

Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, national, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

On-Site or In-Plant Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

On-the-Job Training: Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months

Detailed Work Activities

Pilot aircraft.
Report vehicle or equipment malfunctions.
Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards.
Respond to transportation emergencies.
Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation.
Inspect aircraft or aircraft components.
Monitor work environment to ensure safety or adherence to specifications.
Monitor engine operation or functioning.
Coordinate flight control or management activities.
Resolve issues affecting transportation operations.
Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds.
Meet with coworkers to communicate work orders or plans.
Record operational details of travel.
Provide transportation information to passengers or customers.
Arrange maintenance activities.
Maintain locomotives or other rail equipment in good working condition.
Train transportation or material moving personnel.
Test performance of aircraft equipment.
Evaluate performance of applicants, trainees, or employees.
Plan flight operations.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.
Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.
Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.
Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists.
Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.
Steer aircraft along planned routes, using autopilot and flight management computers.
Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.
Confer with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters to keep abreast of flight conditions.
Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
Brief crews about flight details, such as destinations, duties, and responsibilities.
Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.
Direct activities of aircraft crews during flights.
Record in log books information, such as flight times, distances flown, and fuel consumption.
Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations and the principles of flight.
Make announcements regarding flights, using public address systems.
Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.
Conduct in-flight tests and evaluations at specified altitudes and in all types of weather to determine the receptivity and other characteristics of equipment and systems.
File instrument flight plans with air traffic control to ensure that flights are coordinated with other air traffic.
Perform minor maintenance work, or arrange for major maintenance.
Evaluate other pilots or pilot-license applicants for proficiency.
Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.

Work Styles

Innovation

A tendency to be inventive, to be imaginative, and to adopt new perspectives on ways to accomplish work.

Innovation

Achievement Orientation

Intellectual Curiosity

Tolerance for Ambiguity

Initiative

Adaptability

Self-Confidence

Perseverance

Leadership Orientation

Humility

Sincerity

Empathy

Cooperation

Optimism

Social Orientation

Cautiousness

Attention to Detail

Dependability

Integrity

Stress Tolerance

Self-Control

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Session has been expired