Careers / Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
Opens your browser print dialog — choose “Save as PDF”.
Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$232,140
United States, 2025
Employment
103,560
United States, 2025
Typical education
Bachelor's Degree
Job Zone 4
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 53-2011.00
- Job zone
- 4
- Experience required
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Typical 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.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$106,710
25th percentile
$182,280
75th percentile
$384,440
90th percentile
$463,830
Most important skills
- Operation and Control4.9
- Operations Monitoring4.6
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Active Listening4.1
- Monitoring4.1
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0
- Time Management3.9
- Reading Comprehension3.9
- Active Learning3.8
- Speaking3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Coordination3.6
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 21 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
21
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 4.9 | 5.6 | Not selected | 5.6 |
| Operations Monitoring | 4.6 | 4.9 | Not selected | 4.9 |
| Active Listening | 4.1 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Monitoring | 4.1 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 4.0 | 4.3 | Not selected | 4.3 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.9 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.8 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Time Management | 3.9 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Speaking | 3.8 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Coordination | 3.6 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 | 3.6 | Not selected | 3.6 |
| Instructing | 3.0 | 4.0 | Not selected | 4.0 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.3 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Writing | 3.1 | 3.3 | Not selected | 3.3 |
| Troubleshooting | 3.1 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Quality Control Analysis | 3.1 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $47,520
Compare with Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersSupplemental
National median $51,520
Compare with Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersSupplemental
National median $92,100
Compare with Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersSupplemental
National median $82,890
Compare with Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersSupplemental
National median $68,840
Compare with Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersSupplemental
National median $78,000
Compare with Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersSupplemental
National median $109,530
Compare with Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersSupplemental
National median $82,280
Compare with Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersSupplemental
National median $58,170
Compare with Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersSupplemental
National median $63,580
Compare with Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| GA | $618,090 | 8,770 | 2025 |
| Atlanta, GA | $618,090 | 8,700 | 2025 |
| ID | $507,640 | 330 | 2025 |
| Boise City, ID | $507,640 | — | 2025 |
| MI | $428,570 | — | 2025 |
| Detroit, MI | $428,570 | — | 2025 |
| San Francisco, CA | $374,680 | 2,900 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $364,730 | 6,710 | 2025 |
| CA | $353,900 | 10,670 | 2025 |
| KY | $350,950 | 6,260 | 2025 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $350,950 | 3,330 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | $343,140 | 50 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | $335,270 | 10,030 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | $321,950 | 340 | 2025 |
| Houston, TX | $307,690 | 4,160 | 2025 |
| CO | $307,490 | 5,830 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | $307,490 | 5,600 | 2025 |
| IL | $293,490 | 6,460 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | $293,490 | 6,360 | 2025 |
| NY | $255,240 | 6,900 | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.