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.
Also called: Advanced Air Mobility Operator (AAM Operator), Advanced Air Mobility Pilot (AAM Pilot), Advanced Air Mobility Technician (AAM Technician), Aerial Advertiser, Aerial Crop Duster, Aerial Hurricane Hunter
Median pay
$123,220
per year, U.S.
Pay range (10th–90th)
$58,850 – $266,620
People employed
47,630
Holland code
CRE
Conventional · Realistic · Enterprising
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Is this career right for you?
These are the things that stand out in this job compared with other U.S. jobs (O*NET 31.0 work context). Answer honestly.
- 1.Are you OK with hours that change?
- 2.Do you want a lot of freedom to make your own decisions?
- 3.Are you OK working more than 40 hours a week?
- 4.Are you OK with physical risk, such as hazardous equipment or conditions, with proper training?
- 5.Are you OK working outdoors in all kinds of weather?
- 6.Are you comfortable sitting at a desk most of the day?
The hard parts
- Mistakes can have serious consequences
- Tight deadlines are common
- Work outdoors in all weather
Commercial Pilots pay by state
Highest-paying states
Annual median pay by state (48 states with published data). Source: BLS OEWS May 2025.
What commercial pilots do
- 01Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
- 02Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required.
- 03Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
- 04Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
- 05Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
- 06Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Active Learning
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Transportation
- Geography
- Public Safety and Security
Work styles that stand out
- Dependability
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Cautiousness
- Self-Control
Education and first steps
Share of workers by required education, as reported to O*NET.
How people get started
- Usually needs vocational training or an associate degree (O*NET Job Zone 3).
- Related work experience: over 2 years, up to and including 4 years.
- On-the-job training: anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month.
- A professional certification is often expected.
Most common answers from O*NET 31.0 Education, Training and Experience.
Interest fit (Holland code)
O*NET occupational interest scores, scale 1–7. Take the Free Career Test to compare with your own.
Career changes
Change from commercial pilots
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels74% · −25%
- Ship Engineers72% · −11%
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers71% · −13%
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators69% · 0%
- Aviation Inspectors67% · group pay
Change into commercial pilots
Jobs whose skills carry over best (skill match, their median pay).
- Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels86% · $92,460
- Aircraft Service Attendants80% · $40,450
- Motorboat Operators76% · $47,520
- Subway and Streetcar Operators74% · $86,380
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers73% · $106,730
Majors that lead here
- Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew
- Flight Instructor
From the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk.