Career Profile: Commercial Pilots

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 47,700 people employed as commercial pilots in the United States. The median annual salary is $99,640. Entry level employees earn approximately $50,080 per year and senior employees earn approximately $205,940 (or more) per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes.
• File instrument flight plans with air traffic control so that flights can be coordinated with other air traffic.
• Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.
• Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
• Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.
• Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.
• Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required.
• Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.
• Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate.
• Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption.
• Supervise other crew members.
• Fly with other pilots or pilot-license applicants to evaluate their proficiency.
• Rescue and evacuate injured persons.
• Check the flight performance of new and experimental planes.
• Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations.
• Teach company regulations and procedures to other pilots.
• Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance.
• Conduct in-flight tests and evaluations at specified altitudes and in all types of weather to determine the receptivity and other characteristics of equipment and systems.
• Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.
• Pilot airplanes or helicopters over farmlands at low altitudes to dust or spray fields with fertilizers, fungicides, or pesticides.
• Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
• Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
• Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
• Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
• Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
• Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.

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