Occupation · SOC 53-2012
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.
Median wage
$122,670
$59,330–$239,200
Projected growth
—
—
Annual openings
—
per year
Employed (US)
51,830
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
143 mapped
Core skills
Operation and ControlOperations MonitoringMonitoringCritical ThinkingJudgment and Decision MakingActive ListeningSpeakingReading ComprehensionComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningCoordinationTroubleshootingSystems AnalysisLearning StrategiesWritingTime ManagementSystems EvaluationSocial PerceptivenessInstructingService OrientationPersuasionManagement of Personnel ResourcesMathematicsScienceQuality Control AnalysisNegotiationRepairingManagement of Material ResourcesEquipment MaintenanceOperations AnalysisManagement of Financial ResourcesTechnology DesignProgrammingEquipment SelectionInstallation
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceEnglish LanguageTransportationGeographyPublic Safety and SecurityMechanicalLaw and GovernmentComputers and ElectronicsPhysicsMathematicsEducation and TrainingEngineering and TechnologyPersonnel and Human ResourcesAdministration and ManagementTelecommunicationsPsychologyAdministrativeDesignCommunications and MediaChemistryBiologyProduction and ProcessingEconomics and AccountingSales and MarketingHistory and ArcheologyForeign LanguageSociology and AnthropologyTherapy and CounselingMedicine and DentistryPhilosophy and TheologyFood ProductionBuilding and ConstructionFine Arts
Technology & tools
Adobe Creative Cloud softwareAeroPlannerAeronautical chartsAirSmith FlightPromptAirdataAirline Pilots Daily Aviation Log PPCArduPilot Mission PlannerCalibration softwareCloudCompareESRI Site Scan for ArcGISElectronic aircraft information databasesFLIR Thermal Studio SuiteFlight simulation softwareKitty HawkLP360LitchiMJICCS PilotLogMicrosoft Office softwareNavzillaNimblefeet Technologies Captain's KeeperNotam Development Group Airport InsightOpenDroneMapPilot Navigator Software Load BalancePix4D Pix4DcapturePix4D Pix4DmapperPolaris Microsystems AeroLog ProPolaris Microsystems CharterLogRMS Technology FlitesoftSBS International Maestro SuiteSkylog Services Skylog ProStandard generalized markup language SGMLUgCSdoXstor Flight Level Logbook
Representative tasks
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsControlling Machines and ProcessesMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsProcessing InformationAnalyzing Data or InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesDocumenting/Recording InformationGetting InformationOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesTraining and Teaching OthersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentThinking CreativelyEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicDeveloping and Building TeamsInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersScheduling Work and ActivitiesPerforming General Physical ActivitiesGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersAssisting and Caring for OthersWorking with ComputersHandling and Moving ObjectsPerforming Administrative ActivitiesCoaching and Developing OthersStaffing Organizational UnitsProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Pre-flight inspection checklist — complete systematically under direct supervision to verify engine, control, and instrument readiness on light commercial aircraft.Radio communication protocols — apply to contact control towers for takeoff clearance and arrival instructions under the guidance of a senior pilot.Aeronautical charts and navigation instruments — interpret with instructor oversight to support basic flight planning on short-haul routes.Airspeed calculations — perform using airport altitude, temperature, and weight data with assistance from a flight instructor or captain.Engine operation and fuel consumption gauges — monitor during flight and report anomalies to the pilot-in-command in a structured training environment.Co-pilot duties — assist the captain with defined tasks including altitude holds and heading changes on routine scheduled flights.Visual flight rules — follow to maintain safe separation and situational awareness during clear-weather operations on familiar routes.Government and company flight regulations — recognize and reference when planning or conducting flights under direct pilot-in-command supervision.Aviation ground support software — use with guidance to retrieve weather briefings and NOTAMs before departure.Emergency procedure checklists — locate and read aloud correctly during simulated emergency drills conducted in a training environment.
developing
Pre-flight systems checks — conduct independently across multiple aircraft systems, documenting discrepancies and coordinating corrective action before departure.Instrument flight rules operations — pilot aircraft safely using cockpit instrumentation when visibility is reduced, with minimal oversight from the captain.Takeoff performance calculations — derive independently by integrating airport elevation, ambient temperature, aircraft gross weight, and current wind data for each departure.Air traffic control communications — manage routine radio exchanges for departure, en-route, and arrival phases on regional commercial routes.Fuel load and consumption monitoring — track against flight plan throughout the route and recommend adjustments to maintain adequate reserves.Flight plan preparation — develop using aeronautical charting software and navigation instruments in compliance with FAA regulations and company standard operating procedures.Co-pilot responsibilities — fulfill reliably across the full flight cycle, including takeoff, cruise, descent, and landing, on regularly operated aircraft types.Abnormal system indications — identify during flight monitoring and execute the appropriate checklist response with limited direction from the captain.Route and schedule modifications — propose to dispatch when weather, mechanical, or load factors require changes to ensure safe flight operations.Customer and crew communications — conduct professionally during routine delays or diversions, conveying accurate information with appropriate confidence and clarity.
proficient
Pilot-in-command authority — exercise across the full scope of commercial flight operations including complex weather encounters, diversions, and unscheduled maintenance events.Instrument approach procedures — execute autonomously in low-visibility conditions using flight control software and onboard avionics to maintain precision and safety standards.Weight-and-balance and performance analysis — perform independently for each flight, integrating passenger loads, cargo configurations, fuel quantities, and environmental factors.Non-routine in-flight emergencies — assess, prioritize, and resolve using systematic critical thinking and established emergency checklists without external guidance.Multi-leg flight operations — plan and manage using aeronautical charts, weather data, and analytical software to optimize routing, fuel efficiency, and schedule compliance.Systems analysis during abnormal operations — diagnose complex aircraft system interactions in flight and determine the safest course of action to protect crew and passengers.Regulatory compliance oversight — interpret and apply FAA regulations, airline operations specifications, and government airspace requirements across all phases of flight.Crew resource management — lead cockpit coordination with first officers and cabin crew, ensuring clear communication and shared situational awareness throughout flight.Air traffic control negotiations — manage complex re-routes and holding instructions during airspace congestion or weather deviations with confident, precise radio technique.Post-flight debriefing and reporting — document technical discrepancies, safety observations, and operational irregularities accurately using company reporting systems and office suite software.
advanced
Airline operational standards — establish and refine standard operating procedures for flight departments to ensure safety, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency at scale.Check airman and line training programs — design and conduct to evaluate pilot competency, mentor developing crew members, and maintain fleet qualification standards.Safety management system leadership — drive proactive hazard identification and risk mitigation initiatives across flight operations using data from aviation safety reporting tools.Regulatory liaison and policy advocacy — represent the organization in communications with FAA and government bodies to interpret rulemaking and shape compliance strategies.Pilot performance evaluation — assess captain and first officer proficiency during line checks and simulator sessions, providing structured developmental feedback aligned to company standards.Operational risk governance — lead go/no-go decision frameworks at the organizational level, integrating meteorological, mechanical, and scheduling risk factors to protect systemic safety.Fleet transition and qualification planning — oversee pilot type rating programs and training curricula when new aircraft types are introduced into commercial service.Emergency response command — coordinate organizational response to in-flight incidents and accidents, liaising with operations control, maintenance, and regulatory authorities in real time.Cross-functional operational strategy — collaborate with dispatch, maintenance, and executive leadership to develop scheduling, routing, and fuel policies that optimize safety and efficiency.Industry knowledge dissemination — author guidance materials, deliver safety briefings, and mentor junior pilots to elevate organizational aviation knowledge and professional standards.
Also known as
54 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Advanced Air Mobility Operator (AAM Operator)Advanced Air Mobility Pilot (AAM Pilot)Advanced Air Mobility Technician (AAM Technician)Aerial AdvertiserAerial Crop DusterAerial Hurricane HunterAerial SprayerAgricultural PilotAir Ambulance CaptainAir Ambulance Helicopter PilotAir Tour PilotAir Transport PilotAirplane PatrollerAirplane PilotAviatorBalloon PilotBalloonistCaptainCharter PilotCheck AirmanChopper OperatorCommercial Airplane PilotCommercial Charter PilotCommercial Helicopter PilotCommercial PilotCommercial Pilot Certified Charter PilotCopilotCorporate PilotCrop DusterEMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot)EMS Pilot (Emergency Medical Services Pilot)EMS Rotary Wing Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Rotary Wing Pilot)Executive PilotFirst OfficerFirst Officer Pilot (FO Pilot)Fixed Wing PilotFlight OperatorFlyerForestry PilotHelicopter Air Ambulance Pilot