Careers · Explore one path
Commercial Pilots
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.
Other titles employers use
Captain · Charter Pilot · Check Airman · Commercial Helicopter Pilot · Commercial Pilot · EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot) · First Officer · Helicopter Pilot
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
- Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
- Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
- Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to organizing, practical and persuading work.
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Persuading
- Leading, selling, starting projects, or making a case
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Operation and Control
- Operations Monitoring
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Judgment and Decision Making
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Transportation
- Geography
- Public Safety and Security
Useful strengths
- Problem Sensitivity
- Perceptual Speed
- Control Precision
- Near Vision
- Oral Comprehension
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 4.2 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 2.0 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.4 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 3.6 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a postsecondary certificate. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A certificate or some college 53%
- High school or less 44%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Office suite software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Analytical or scientific software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Map creation software
- Charting software
- Project management software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 7,620
- Job openings each year
- 890
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 10.6%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 7,620 | 890 | 10.6% |
| Texas | 6,430 | 750 | 11.8% |
| California | 5,900 | 690 | 13.5% |
| Ohio | 4,540 | 520 | 5.1% |
| Colorado | 1,870 | 230 | 27.2% |
| Washington | 1,810 | 250 | 19.9% |
| Michigan | 1,590 | 180 | — |
| Georgia | 1,470 | 170 | 16.7% |
| Minnesota | 1,420 | 160 | 3.6% |
| Nevada | 1,370 | 160 | 16.1% |
| Alabama | 1,330 | 150 | 7.3% |
| Arizona | 1,310 | 150 | 8.3% |
| Missouri | 1,190 | 140 | 6.3% |
| Indiana | 1,110 | 130 | 7.8% |
| Louisiana | 1,080 | 130 | 8.0% |
| New York | 1,080 | 0 | 2.9% |
| Oregon | 1,040 | 120 | 11.8% |
| North Carolina | 1,020 | 120 | 14.6% |
| Tennessee | 940 | 110 | 5.6% |
| Virginia | 780 | 90 | 5.4% |
| Pennsylvania | 730 | 80 | 4.3% |
| Illinois | 680 | 80 | 6.3% |
| Utah | 680 | 80 | 28.3% |
| Alaska | 650 | 80 | 14.0% |
| Kansas | 640 | 70 | 6.7% |
| Montana | 570 | 70 | 9.6% |
| Maryland | 560 | 70 | 9.8% |
| Arkansas | 540 | 60 | 3.8% |
| Wisconsin | 490 | 60 | 16.7% |
| Kentucky | 480 | 60 | 6.7% |
| South Carolina | 480 | 60 | 17.1% |
| Mississippi | 450 | 50 | 7.1% |
| Oklahoma | 440 | 50 | 7.3% |
| Iowa | 430 | 50 | 10.3% |
| New Hampshire | 410 | 50 | 5.1% |
| New Jersey | 390 | 50 | 5.4% |
| Nebraska | 370 | 40 | 5.7% |
| Idaho | 360 | 40 | 20.0% |
| Connecticut | 340 | 40 | 25.9% |
| New Mexico | 340 | 40 | 13.3% |
| Delaware | 290 | 30 | 16.0% |
| Wyoming | 280 | 30 | 16.7% |
| South Dakota | 230 | 30 | 9.5% |
| North Dakota | 210 | 20 | 5.0% |
| Puerto Rico | 100 | 10 | — |
| West Virginia | 90 | 10 | — |
| Massachusetts | 70 | 10 | 16.7% |
| Maine | 60 | 10 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
- Degrees each year
- 586
- Admit rate
- 66%
- Annual cost after aid
- $37,000
Liberty University
- Degrees each year
- 484
- Admit rate
- 99%
- Annual cost after aid
- $27,000
University of North Dakota
- Degrees each year
- 337
- Admit rate
- 77%
- Annual cost after aid
- $15,000
Middle Tennessee State University
- Degrees each year
- 212
- Admit rate
- 68%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
Western Michigan University
- Degrees each year
- 207
- Admit rate
- 85%
- Annual cost after aid
- $14,000
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
- Degrees each year
- 171
- Admit rate
- 90%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
Purdue University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 140
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
Auburn University
- Degrees each year
- 131
- Admit rate
- 50%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000