2021 Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary Guide

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.

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary

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Salary

$161K

Growth

Bright Outlook

Average

Green

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Job Description

Also known as:

Airline Captain, Airline Pilot, Airline Pilot (Captain), Airline Transport Pilot, Captain, Check Airman, Co-Pilot, Commuter Pilot, First Officer, Pilot

How Much Do Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Make ? 2021

Percentile	10%	25%	50% (Median)	75%	90%
Annual Wage	$80,920	$106,530	$160,970	$208	$208

How Much Do Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Make ? 2021

Percentile

10%

25%

50% (Median)

75%

90%

Annual Wage

$80,920

$106,530

$160,970

$208

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Tasks

Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.
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.
Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.
Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.
Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.
Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.
Steer aircraft along planned routes, using autopilot and flight management computers.
Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.
Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists.
Perform minor maintenance work, or arrange for major maintenance.
Perform minor maintenance work, or arrange for major maintenance.
Test and evaluate the performance of new aircraft.
Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.
Confer with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters to keep abreast of flight conditions.
Direct activities of aircraft crews during flights.
Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.
Brief crews about flight details, such as destinations, duties, and responsibilities.
Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
File instrument flight plans with air traffic control to ensure that flights are coordinated with other air traffic.
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.
Record in log books information, such as flight times, distances flown, and fuel consumption.
Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations and the principles of flight.
Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.
Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.
Load smaller aircraft, handling passenger luggage and supervising refueling.
Load smaller aircraft, handling passenger luggage and supervising refueling.
Evaluate other pilots or pilot-license applicants for proficiency.
Make announcements regarding flights, using public address systems.

What Activities Do Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Do?

Pilot aircraft.
Pilot aircraft.
Pilot aircraft.
Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation.
Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards.
Report vehicle or equipment malfunctions.
Respond to transportation emergencies.
Pilot aircraft.
Monitor work environment to ensure safety or adherence to specifications.
Monitor engine operation or functioning.
Inspect aircraft or aircraft components.
Maintain locomotives or other rail equipment in good working condition.
Arrange maintenance activities.
Test performance of aircraft equipment.
Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds.
Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Coordinate flight control or management activities.
Coordinate flight control or management activities.
Meet with coworkers to communicate work orders or plans.
Resolve issues affecting transportation operations.
Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement.
Test performance of aircraft equipment.
Record operational details of travel.
Train transportation or material moving personnel.
Record operational details of travel.
Plan flight operations.
Load shipments, belongings, or materials.
Direct material handling or moving activities.
Evaluate performance of applicants, trainees, or employees.
Provide transportation information to passengers or customers.

Typical Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Knowledge?

Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Geography - Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

What Are Typical Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Abilities?

Control Precision - Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
Response Orientation - Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
Problem Sensitivity - Noticing when problems happen.
Spatial Orientation - Knowing where things are around you.
Far Vision - Seeing details that are far away.
Inductive Reasoning - Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
Flexibility of Closure - Seeing hidden patterns.
Written Comprehension - Reading and understanding what is written.
Multilimb Coordination - Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
Reaction Time - Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
Rate Control - Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
Near Vision - Seeing details up close.
Depth Perception - Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
Arm-Hand Steadiness - Keeping your arm or hand steady.
Perceptual Speed - Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
Selective Attention - Paying attention to something without being distracted.
Information Ordering - Ordering or arranging things.
Oral Expression - Communicating by speaking.
Deductive Reasoning - Using rules to solve problems.
Oral Comprehension - Listening and understanding what people say.
Time Sharing - Doing two or more things at the same time.
Hearing Sensitivity - Telling the difference between sounds.
Speech Recognition - Recognizing spoken words.
Speech Clarity - Speaking clearly.
Peripheral Vision - Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
Manual Dexterity - Holding or moving items with your hands.
Visual Color Discrimination - Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
Night Vision - Seeing at night or under low light.
Auditory Attention - Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
Glare Sensitivity - Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.

What Are Typical Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Skills? 2021

Operation and Control - Using equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
Critical Thinking - Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
Active Listening - Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.
Monitoring - Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
Speaking - Talking to others.
Judgment and Decision Making - Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
Complex Problem Solving - Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
Reading Comprehension - Reading work-related information.
Time Management - Managing your time and the time of other people.
Active Learning - Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
Coordination - Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
Social Perceptiveness - Understanding people's reactions.
Systems Analysis - Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.

What Are Typical Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Interests?

Conventional - Occupations related to Conventional interests frequently involve following set procedures and routines. They include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
Investigative - Occupations with Investigative interests frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They often involve research and figuring out problems mentally.
Realistic - Occupations with Realistic interests frequently involve practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

What Is The Projected Employment For Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ? 2021

Location	2019 Employment	2029 Employment	Percent change	Annual projected job openings
United States	85,500	87,900	3%	8,300

What Is The Projected Employment For Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ? 2021

Location

2019 Employment

2029 Employment

Percent change

Annual projected job openings

United States

85,500

87,900

8,300

What Is The Required Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Education & Experience? 2021

Bachelor's degree
Less than 5 years work experience
1 to 12 months on-the-job training

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Schools ?

School	Program Name	Location	Length / Graduates
Academy College	Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew	Bloomington, MN	2 years: 4 4 years: 3
Aims Community College	Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew	Greeley, CO	2 years: 6 At least one but less than two years: 0 Less than one year: 0
Arizona Western College	Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew	Yuma, AZ	Less than one year: 0
Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College	Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew	Asheville, NC	2 years: 19 Less than one year: 0
Atlantic Cape Community College	Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew	Mays Landing, NJ	Less than one year: 0
Auburn University	Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew	Auburn, AL	4 years: 5
Aviator College of Aeronautical Science and Technology	Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew	Fort Pierce, FL	Less than one year: 81
Aviator College of Aeronautical Science and Technology	Flight Instructor	Fort Pierce, FL	2 years: 29
Baylor University	Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew	Waco, TX	4 years: 1 4 years: 10
Big Bend Community College	Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew	Moses Lake, WA	2 years: 16

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Schools ?

129 United States

School

Program Name

Location

Length / Graduates

Academy College

Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew

Bloomington, MN

2 years: 4
4 years: 3

Aims Community College

Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew

Greeley, CO

2 years: 6
At least one but less than two years: 0
Less than one year: 0

Arizona Western College

Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew

Yuma, AZ

Less than one year: 0

Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College

Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew

Asheville, NC

2 years: 19
Less than one year: 0

Atlantic Cape Community College

Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew

Mays Landing, NJ

Less than one year: 0

Auburn University

Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew

Auburn, AL

4 years: 5

Aviator College of Aeronautical Science and Technology

Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew

Fort Pierce, FL

Less than one year: 81

Aviator College of Aeronautical Science and Technology

Flight Instructor

Fort Pierce, FL

2 years: 29

Baylor University

Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew

Waco, TX

4 years: 1
4 years: 10

Big Bend Community College

Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew

Moses Lake, WA

2 years: 16

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Jobs Near Me .

Job Title	Company	Location	Date Posted	Federal Contractor
AIRPLANE PILOT (SIMULATOR INSTRUCTOR)	U.S. Air Force - Agency Wide	Randolph AFB, Texas	08/03/2021	No
Alaska - Q400 Pilot	ConocoPhillips	ANCHORAGE, Alaska	08/04/2021	Yes
Backup Helicopter News Pilot - TAMPA	iHeartMedia	Tampa, Florida	08/04/2021	Yes
Career Navigator - Grand Rapids	ACSET/West Michigan Works!	Grand Rapids, Michigan	08/04/2021	No
Career Navigator - Muskegon	ACSET/West Michigan Works!	Grand Rapids, Michigan	08/04/2021	No
CTS (I90) Remote Pilot Operator - RPO (Casual)	SAIC	HOUSTON, Texas	08/04/2021	Yes
FLIGHT OPERATIONS SPECIALIST	Army National Guard Units	New Castle, Delaware	08/03/2021	No
HELICOPTER FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR	Army National Guard Units	Shelbyville, Indiana	08/03/2021	No
Miembro del equipo de cajeros	Pilot Company	Boron, California	08/04/2021	Yes
Miembro del equipo de cajeros	Pilot Company	Fernley, Nevada	08/04/2021	Yes

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Jobs Near Me .

296 United States

Job Title

Company

Location

Date Posted

Federal Contractor

AIRPLANE PILOT (SIMULATOR INSTRUCTOR)

U.S. Air Force - Agency Wide

Randolph AFB, Texas

08/03/2021

Alaska - Q400 Pilot

ConocoPhillips

ANCHORAGE, Alaska

08/04/2021

Yes

Backup Helicopter News Pilot - TAMPA

iHeartMedia

Tampa, Florida

08/04/2021

Yes

Career Navigator - Grand Rapids

ACSET/West Michigan Works!

Grand Rapids, Michigan

08/04/2021

Career Navigator - Muskegon

ACSET/West Michigan Works!

Grand Rapids, Michigan

08/04/2021

CTS (I90) Remote Pilot Operator - RPO (Casual)

SAIC

HOUSTON, Texas

08/04/2021

Yes

FLIGHT OPERATIONS SPECIALIST

Army National Guard Units

New Castle, Delaware

08/03/2021

HELICOPTER FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR

Army National Guard Units

Shelbyville, Indiana

08/03/2021

Miembro del equipo de cajeros

Pilot Company

Boron, California

08/04/2021

Yes

Miembro del equipo de cajeros

Pilot Company

Fernley, Nevada

08/04/2021

Yes

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2021 Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary Guide

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Job Description

Also known as:

How Much Do Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Make ? 2021

How Much Do Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Make ? 2021

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Tasks

What Activities Do Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Do?

Typical Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Knowledge?

What Are Typical Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Abilities?

What Are Typical Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Skills? 2021

What Are Typical Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Interests?

What Is The Projected Employment For Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ? 2021

What Is The Projected Employment For Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ? 2021

What Is The Required Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Education & Experience? 2021

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Schools ?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Schools ?

Location

Program Name

Program Length

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Jobs Near Me .

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Jobs Near Me .

Location

Company

Date Posted

What Careers Are Related To Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers 2021 Salary Guide By State

Common Careers

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2021 Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary Guide

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Job Description

Also known as:

How Much Do Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Make ? 2021

How Much Do Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Make ? 2021

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Tasks

What Activities Do Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Do?

Typical Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Knowledge?

What Are Typical Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Abilities?

What Are Typical Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Skills? 2021

What Are Typical Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Interests?

What Is The Projected Employment For Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ? 2021

What Is The Projected Employment For Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ? 2021

What Is The Required Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Education & Experience? 2021

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Schools ?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Schools ?

Location

Program Name

Program Length

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Jobs Near Me .

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Jobs Near Me .

Location

Company

Date Posted

What Careers Are Related To Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

What Careers Are Related To Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers 2021 Salary Guide By State

Common Careers