Transportation and material moving
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 certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, national, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots.
Median pay
$232,140
Growth to 2035
+8%
faster than average
Openings a year
11,200
Time to qualify*
2.5 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- On-the-job training
- Moderate-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- Less than 5 years
Calculate your switch to airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers: 20% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core 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.
Also called: Airbus Captain · Airline Captain · Airline Pilot · Captain · Check Airman · Co-Pilot · Commercial Airline Pilot · First Officer (FO)
Outlook and AI
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers held 104,600 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 113,300 by 2035 (+8%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers vs. Commercial pilot
- Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers vs. Air traffic controller
- Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers vs. Airfield operations specialist
- Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers vs. Aircraft service attendant
- Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers vs. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers vs. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers vs. Transportation inspector
- Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers vs. Locomotive engineer
- Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers vs. Aerospace engineer