Career change to pilot
Together they employ 151,190 people (BLS, May 2025). Below: the jobs whose skills carry over best, what you need to get in, and pay.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0, BLS OEWS May 2025 and BLS CPS 2025 · How we match careers
- Median pay, Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
- $232,140
- Usual preparation
- A bachelor's degree
- Workers 45 or older
- 53%
- Careers on this page
- 2
The best jobs to switch from
Jobs whose skills carry over best into these careers, by our career-change match score, with the skills people in that job usually need to build.
| If you are now… | Best match | Match | Your median pay now | Skills to build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | Commercial Pilots | 86% | $92,460 | Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Systems Evaluation |
| Aircraft Service Attendants | Commercial Pilots | 80% | $40,450 | Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Systems Evaluation |
| Motorboat Operators | Commercial Pilots | 76% | $47,520 | Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making |
| Subway and Streetcar Operators | Commercial Pilots | 74% | $86,380 | Systems Analysis, Systems Evaluation, Operation and Control |
| Power Distributors and Dispatchers | Commercial Pilots | 73% | $106,730 | Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Troubleshooting |
| Transportation Inspectors | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 72% | $92,100 | Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Operations Analysis |
| Aviation Inspectors | Commercial Pilots | 70% | $92,100Broader BLS group | Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Judgment and Decision Making |
| Bus Drivers, School | Commercial Pilots | 70% | $47,920 | Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Systems Evaluation |
| Locomotive Engineers | Commercial Pilots | 70% | $81,410 | Systems Evaluation, Systems Analysis, Persuasion |
| Gas Plant Operators | Commercial Pilots | 69% | $87,820 | Operation and Control, Service Orientation, Judgment and Decision Making |
| Nuclear Power Reactor Operators | Commercial Pilots | 69% | $122,890 | Equipment Maintenance, Operation and Control, Equipment Selection |
| Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 64% | $78,000 | Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Troubleshooting |
| Nurse Anesthetists | Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 46% | $236,590 | Operation and Control, Operations Monitoring, Troubleshooting |
Skills to build: skills that are at least 0.25 points more important in the new career (O*NET 31.0 importance, 1–5). How we match careers
What you need to get in
Education (Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers)
- 61% of workers say the job requires bachelor's degree
- 18% of workers say the job requires high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged)
- 8% of workers say the job requires less than a high school diploma
Usual preparation: A bachelor's degree (O*NET 31.0 Job Zone). Most common on-the-job training: over 1 month, up to and including 3 months.
Licenses and requirements
Commercial Pilots need an FAA commercial pilot certificate: at least 250 logged flight hours, an FAA medical exam, and a written and a practical flight test. Many employers ask for 1,000 to 2,000 hours or more, and flight training is costly. Airline pilots must retire at 65 under federal law.
The careers on this page
| Career | Median pay | U.S. jobs | Usual preparation | Workers 45+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $232,140 | 103,560 | A bachelor's degree | 53% |
| Commercial Pilots | $123,220 | 47,630 | 1–2 years (training or associate) | 53% |
Similar careers to consider
The careers most like airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers by skills and daily work (O*NET 31.0).
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters79% similar · $78,000 · Up to a year
- Locomotive Engineers76% similar · $81,410 · Up to a year
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers75% similar · $106,730 · 1–2 years (training or associate)
- Air Traffic Controllers74% similar · $148,080 · 1–2 years (training or associate)
- Airfield Operations Specialists74% similar · $56,850 · 1–2 years (training or associate)
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators73% similar · $122,890 · 1–2 years (training or associate)
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Questions about switching to pilot
What jobs make it easiest to switch to pilot?
By our skill match, people working as Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels (86%), Aircraft Service Attendants (80%) and Motorboat Operators (76%) have the most transferable experience.
What education do you need for pilot?
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers: 61% of workers report bachelor's degree as required; 18% of workers report high school diploma or the equivalent (such as a ged) as required; 8% of workers report less than a high school diploma as required (O*NET 31.0). Usual preparation: A bachelor's degree.
Is it too late to switch to pilot at 40?
53% of airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are 45 or older and their median age is 46.1 (BLS Current Population Survey, 2025, broader occupation group).
How much do airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers make?
The national median is $232,140 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). Highest-paying states: Georgia ($618,090), Idaho ($507,640), Michigan ($428,570).