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What You Need to Know About 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.
A Day in the Life of a Commercial Pilot
- Fly with other pilots or pilot-license applicants to evaluate their proficiency.
- Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.
- Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.
- Check the flight performance of new and experimental planes.
- Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations.
- Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
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Commercial Pilot 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.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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
- Executive Pilot
- Agricultural Pilot
- Aerial Hurricane Hunter
- Pilot
- Aerial Advertiser
Is There Job Demand for Commercial Pilots?
In the United States, there were 40,800 jobs for Commercial Pilot in 2016. 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. There will be an estimated 4,000 positions for Commercial Pilot per 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.
Do Commercial Pilots Make A Lot Of Money?
Commercial Pilots make between $44,660 and $160,480 a year.
Commercial Pilots who work in South Carolina, Connecticut, or Massachusetts, make the highest salaries.
How much do Commercial Pilots make in each U.S. state?
| 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 do Commercial Pilots Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Commercial Pilots:
- Microsoft Office
- SBS International Maestro Suite
- AirSmith FlightPrompt
- Electronic aircraft information databases
- MJICCS PilotLog
- Nimblefeet Technologies Captain’s Keeper
- Polaris Microsystems AeroLog Pro
- Polaris Microsystems CharterLog
- RMS Technology Flitesoft
- 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
Education needed to be a Commercial Pilot:
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Commercial Pilots Are Employed
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Related 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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