Commercial Pilots

Also Called: Captain, EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot), First Officer, Pilot

Bachelor's Degree

usually needed

Not Available
(Students Only)
Match Percentage

$56,260

Entry Salary

Bright

Job outlook

What Commercial Pilots do

Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air carrier routes, or helicopters. Requires Commercial Pilot certificate. Includes charter pilots with similar certification, and air ambulance and air tour pilots. Excludes regional, national, and international airline pilots.

  • Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
  • Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
  • Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
Industry Areas:

Transportation

Expand For Additional Details

Work Context

  • Contact With Others
  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Telephone
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
  • Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results

Tools

  • Aircraft guidance systems
  • Aircraft warning systems
  • Aircraft communication systems
  • Flight computer systems
  • Aircraft braking systems

Technology

Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Data base user interface and query software
Airline Pilots Daily Aviation Logs PPC
AirSmith FlightPrompt
Information retrieval or search software
AeroPlanner
Notam Development Group Airport Insight

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Operation and Control
  • Operation Monitoring
  • Critical Thinking
  • Monitoring
  • Active Listening

Knowledge

Transportation
movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road
Business
customer service
management
Math and Science
geography
arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics
Arts and Humanities
English language

Education

  • 28% Bachelor's degree
  • 25% Post-secondary certificate
  • 23% High school diploma or equivalent

Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What are some related occupations at different educational levels?


Job Training Match

Forest & Conservation Technicians

Educational Level

High School Diploma or Equivalent

 Job Training Match

Aircraft Mechanics & Service Technicians

Educational Level

Post-secondary, non-degree

Captains, Mates, & Pilots of Water Vessels

Educational Level

Associate's Degree

Commercial Pilots Currently Selected

Educational Level

Bachelor's Degree

Educational Level

Advanced Degree

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Advanced Training

There are currently no advanced training opportunities for this career.

ACT & College

  • Aims Community College

    Greeley, CO

  • Andrews University

    Berrien Springs, MI

Apprenticeships

Earn while you learn. Apprenticeships combines paid training & specialized classes to help workers enter highly skilled occupations. Click here for to locate an apprenticeship near you.

Military

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Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

    • Enterprising (Persuader)
    • Investigative (Thinker)
    • Realistic (Doer)

Work Styles

  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Cooperation
  • Self Control
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Initiative

Values

  • Support
  • Independence
  • Recognition

Abilities

  • Controlled Movement
  • Verbal
  • Attention
  • Ideas and Logic

This is what Commercial Pilots across the country typically make.

$27.05 / hour
$56,260 /year

Entry Level

$54.37 / hour
$113,080 /year

Median Level

$115.00 / hour
$239,200 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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