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.
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.
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