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Commercial Pilot

Also called: Captain, Helicopter Pilot, Pilot, Charter Pilot

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.

No four-year degree needed Bright outlook Transportation
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Median pay
$123,220/yr
Typical range
$58,850 – $266,620
Outlook
Bright outlook

What does a Commercial Pilot do?

  • Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
  • Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required.
  • Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.

How to become a Commercial Pilot

Training: A certificate after high school or a high school diploma or GED. Employees in these careers need one or two years of training. Both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers may be needed. An apprenticeship program may be a good choice for these careers.

Skills you'll use

Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvementsThinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problemNoticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve itThinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best oneFiguring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Is it a fit for you?

  • Self-Confidence
  • Leadership Orientation
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Self-Control
  • Cautiousness

Tools and technology

Adobe Creative Cloud softwareCalibration softwarePilot Navigator Software Load BalanceAirline Pilots Daily Aviation Log PPCSkylog Services Skylog Pro

Questions people ask

How much does a Commercial Pilot make?

About $123,220 a year at the U.S. median. Most earn between $58,850 and $266,620. Pay depends on the state, the employer and experience.

How long does it take to become a Commercial Pilot?

Employees in these careers need one or two years of training. Both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers may be needed. An apprenticeship program may be a good choice for these careers.

Do you need a college degree to be a Commercial Pilot?

No four-year degree is needed. A certificate after high school or a high school diploma or GED.

Is Commercial Pilot a good career to get into?

O*NET lists it as a Bright Outlook career: it's expected to grow quickly or have lots of openings in the next few years.

Related careers

Aircraft Mechanic & Service Technician$79,870 a yearAirfield Operations Specialist$56,850 a yearTruck Driver (CDL)$54,320 a yearFlight Attendant$63,580 a yearIndustrial Truck & Tractor Operator$46,420 a yearLight Truck Driver$44,860 a year

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National wage figures via O*NET Web Services. This application incorporates information from O*NET Web Services by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Figures are national estimates and vary by state, employer and experience. Career details from O*NET Web Services 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.

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