Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Transportation and Material Moving
Operates fixed-wing aircraft on scheduled airline routes, carrying passengers or cargo according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures. Before departure, inspects the plane for defects, starts engines, and radios the control tower for clearances; in the air, watches gauges, fuel use, and aircraft systems, and switches to instruments when visibility is poor. Works as part of a flight team, especially during takeoffs and landings, and reports or responds to in-flight emergencies and malfunctions. A Federal Air Transport certificate and a rating for the specific aircraft type are required. Suits people who like close system monitoring, methodical checklists, and making careful decisions with a crew in the cockpit.
Typical education: Bachelor’s Degree (4-year)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$232'140
Median Wage Market Position
$232'140
What you might do
- Pilot scheduled flights with passengers or cargo
- Team up with crew for takeoff and landing
- Scan gauges and warnings throughout the flight
- Steer by instruments in poor visibility
- Inspect the aircraft using the preflight checklist
- Radio the tower for takeoff and landing
Skills that matter
- Flying by instruments in poor visibility
- Inspecting the aircraft before each flight
- Tracking engines, fuel, and system status
- Radioing towers for takeoff and arrival
- Working as a crew on takeoff and landing
- Handling in-flight emergencies and malfunctions
AI & the future of this role
Autopilot and decision-support systems already handle much routine flying, but final authority, weather judgment, and emergency response remain tightly regulated and liability-bound. Licensing and passenger-safety expectations make large-scale displacement of crews less likely over the next decade.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details