Airline Pilot
Median wage · national
$232,140
Range: $182K – $384K
Employed
104K
Openings/yr
11K
Typically: bachelor's degree
TRADES
Commercial Pilot
With a national median of $123,220 and +5.2% projected job growth through 2035, Commercial Pilot offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
About Commercial Pilot
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a commercial pilot: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Air Transportation and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
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.
- Median Wage
- $123,220
- Employed Nationally
- 48K
- Openings / Year
- 5,200
- Entry Education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- Job Zone
- Zone 3: Medium Preparation
Also known as:
Advanced Air Mobility Operator (AAM Operator)
Advanced Air Mobility Pilot (AAM Pilot)
Advanced Air Mobility Technician (AAM Technician)
Aerial Advertiser
Aerial Crop Duster
How Much Do Commercial Pilots Make?
Most commercial pilots take home around $123,220 a year, well above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $84,540 and $190,440, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. Worth weighing against how long the training takes. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$123,220
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$85K–$190K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$84,540
Entry-level
$123,220
Median
$190,440
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $146,080, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do Commercial Pilots Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- 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.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Operation and Control
Operations Monitoring
Monitoring
Critical Thinking
Judgment and Decision Making
Who Thrives Here
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
E
Enterprising
Leadership, influence, and business acumen are rewarded here, where managing teams, driving decisions, or persuading others shapes career outcomes.
Where Do Commercial Pilots Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Commercial Pilots?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +5.2%, meaning it is growing at about the same pace as everything else, so expect steady demand. Around 5,200 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +5.2%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
About as fast as average.
5,200
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
48K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Commercial Pilot professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $123,220 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 6,340 | $121,890 | -1.1% |
| 2 | California | 4,900 | $165,590 | +34.4% |
| 3 | Texas | 4,120 | $137,960 | +12.0% |
| 4 | Ohio | 2,680 | $150,330 | +22.0% |
| 5 | Arizona | 1,540 | $103,060 | -16.4% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a postsecondary nondegree award. The program below is the most common route in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
Typical Entry Education
Postsecondary nondegree award
Job Zone
Zone 3: Medium Preparation
A medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Air Transportation | 10,445 | $85,825 | 248 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Commercial Pilots
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas A&M University-Central Texas Killeen, TX | 87 | $1,300 | — |
| 2 | Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN | 86 | $14,600 | $72,424 |
| 3 | Miami Dade College Miami, FL | 84 | $5,463 | $40,654 |
| 4 | Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH | 83 | $17,339 | $60,409 |
| 5 | San Diego Miramar College San Diego, CA | 83 | $3,337 | $48,224 |
| 6 | University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus Norman, OK | 82 | $15,300 | $63,126 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Commercial Pilot, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Commercial Pilot pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Commercial Pilot Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Commercial Pilot a compelling path. The 4 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $123,220 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Steady job outlook The BLS projects +5.2% growth through 2035, keeping pace with the national average. Demand is stable and annual openings remain consistent.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $190,440 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
- Accessible entry path The typical entry requirement is a postsecondary nondegree award, lower than many comparable-paying careers. This creates a shorter path from training to first paycheck.
CONS
- Earnings and demand vary significantly by region National figures for Commercial Pilot mask real geographic variation. High-demand metros can pay 20% or more above the national median while lower-cost or rural markets often fall well short. Where you work matters nearly as much as your credentials.
Commercial Pilot Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Commercial Pilot professionals earn?
Around $123,220 a year for the typical worker, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $84,540 and $190,440. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Commercial Pilot a good career?
Yes, the data is strong. Median pay of $123,220 with +5.2% projected growth through 2035 is a combination most fields cannot match. The real variable is early career: workers around the 25th percentile earn $84,540, so your first employer and location will shape your trajectory more than the national number suggests.
How do I become a Commercial Pilot?
Most Commercial Pilot positions require a postsecondary nondegree award as the minimum credential. a medium amount of preparation is required, often an associate degree, certificate program, or apprenticeship, plus some related experience. Programs like Air Transportation are common starting points.
What is the job outlook for Commercial Pilot?
Employment is projected to change by +5.2% through 2035, about as fast as average compared with other occupations. Around 5,200 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 48K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
Why do Commercial Pilot professionals earn so much?
At $123,220 median with a Zone 3 preparation level, Commercial Pilot compensates well because specialized expertise creates high economic value per hour, and the role typically carries meaningful liability, decision-making responsibility, or direct revenue impact. Industries that depend on this skill set pay competitively to attract and retain people who are genuinely good at it.
Why do Commercial Pilot salaries vary so widely?
The $105,900 gap between the 25th ($84,540) and 75th ($190,440) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Commercial Pilot professionals need?
Mainly Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Monitoring, Critical Thinking, and Judgment and Decision Making. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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