Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
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 Pilot certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers 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 Pilot certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. The role reports a median annual salary of $226,600 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $98,820 and $239,200 and is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows low AI exposure (0.35 on a 0-1 scale) — the role's core work resists automation. The most in-demand skills for the role include Operation and Control, Operation Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Transportation
- Geography
- Physics
- Public Safety and Security
- English Language
- Mechanical
- Mathematics
- Telecommunications
A day in the life
Your day starts hours before the flight with a weather briefing, fuel calculation, and pre-flight walk-around inspection of the aircraft, checking tires, control surfaces, and engine inlets. In the cockpit you and your copilot run through checklists, program the flight management system, and communicate with air traffic control before pushing back from the gate. During the flight you monitor instruments, manage autopilot settings, navigate around weather systems, and handle the occasional turbulence that makes passengers grip their armrests. After touchdown and taxi-in, you debrief with the crew and prepare for the next leg. The job offers incredible views, travel perks, and a unique office, but it also demands sharp focus, disciplined decision-making, and the ability to stay calm when things do not go as planned.
Frequently asked questions
What does Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers do?
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 Pilot certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used.
What does a typical day look like in Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?
Your day starts hours before the flight with a weather briefing, fuel calculation, and pre-flight walk-around inspection of the aircraft, checking tires, control surfaces, and engine inlets. In the cockpit you and your copilot run through checklists, program the flight management system, and communicate with air traffic control before pushing back from the gate.
How much does Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers earn?
The median annual salary for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers in the US is $226,600. The middle 80% of workers earn between $98,820 and $239,200 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $140,010 and $239,200.
What is the job outlook for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 100,000 workers.
How do I become airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Operation and Control, Operation Monitoring, Critical Thinking, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?
Our AI-durability model gives Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers a score of 0.35 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at low AI exposure — the role's core work resists current-generation automation. It's a comparatively AI-durable choice within its field.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers has very high barrier to entry — very highly gated — extended graduate education, licensure, or years of specialised training are required.
Is Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers right for you?
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