What is a Commercial Pilot?
Commercial Pilot Job Description Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-winged 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.
Life As a Commercial Pilot
- Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
- Check the flight performance of new and experimental planes.
- Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.
- Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.
- Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
- Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
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Commercial Pilot Needed Skills
When polled, Commercial Pilots say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Other Commercial Pilot Job Titles
- Crop Duster
- Chopper Operator
- Captain
- Flying Instructor
- Transport Pilot
Is There Job Demand for Commercial Pilots?
There were about 40,800 jobs for Commercial Pilot in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 3.7% which is below the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 1,500 new jobs for Commercial Pilot by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 4,000 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Commercial Pilot are Tennessee, Utah, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Minnesota, Massachusetts, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Commercial Pilot Make?
The typical yearly salary for Commercial Pilots is somewhere between $44,660 and $160,480.
Commercial Pilots who work in South Carolina, Connecticut, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Commercial Pilots make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $91,100 |
| Alaska | $91,850 |
| Arizona | $80,000 |
| Arkansas | $78,310 |
| California | $97,720 |
| Colorado | $91,930 |
| Connecticut | $127,950 |
| Delaware | $97,420 |
| Florida | $110,540 |
| Georgia | $130,760 |
| Hawaii | $102,350 |
| Idaho | $76,310 |
| Illinois | $99,990 |
| Indiana | $75,790 |
| Iowa | $92,090 |
| Kansas | $96,370 |
| Kentucky | $106,470 |
| Louisiana | $85,440 |
| Maine | $58,540 |
| Maryland | $110,240 |
| Massachusetts | $97,740 |
| Michigan | $93,640 |
| Minnesota | $106,300 |
| Mississippi | $103,000 |
| Missouri | $93,420 |
| Montana | $82,290 |
| Nebraska | $79,700 |
| Nevada | $102,590 |
| New Hampshire | $66,240 |
| New Jersey | $93,440 |
| New Mexico | $99,400 |
| New York | $127,590 |
| North Carolina | $82,060 |
| North Dakota | $82,880 |
| Ohio | $88,830 |
| Oklahoma | $80,300 |
| Oregon | $70,900 |
| Pennsylvania | $89,030 |
| South Carolina | $106,170 |
| South Dakota | $63,090 |
| Tennessee | $72,300 |
| Texas | $104,680 |
| Utah | $77,550 |
| Vermont | $84,610 |
| Washington | $106,360 |
| West Virginia | $75,890 |
| Wisconsin | $80,520 |
| Wyoming | $77,970 |
What Tools & Technology do Commercial Pilots Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Commercial Pilots may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Office
- SBS International Maestro Suite
- RMS Technology Flitesoft
- Electronic aircraft information databases
- MJICCS PilotLog
- Nimblefeet Technologies Captain’s Keeper
- Polaris Microsystems AeroLog Pro
- Polaris Microsystems CharterLog
- AirSmith FlightPrompt
- Skylog Services Skylog Pro
- doXstor Flight Level Logbook
- AeroPlanner
- Notam Development Group Airport Insight
- Standard generalized markup language SGML
- Navzilla
- Pilot Navigator Software Load Balance
- Flight simulation software
How to Become a Commercial Pilot
What kind of Commercial Pilot requirements are there?
What work experience do I need to become a Commercial Pilot?
Where Commercial Pilots Work
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Similar Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Commercial Pilot might also be interested in the following careers:
References:
Image Credit: Tech. Sgt. Scott T. Sturkol via U.S. Air Force photo
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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