Pilot Jobs Archives

Airline Pilot Salary: Comprehensive Breakdown & Industry Comparison 2025

How much do pilots make? Based on current data (next update: May 2026), the annual median airline pilot salary is $226,600 and the average is over $200,000. Pay typically ranges from around $90,000 for new first officers to $450,000 for senior captains at major airlines. Earnings vary by airline, aircraft type, routes flown, credentials, experience, job title, and union agreements. Read the complete breakdown below by airline, rank, and experience below. Overview of Airline Pilot Salaries and Influencing Factors Pilot pay varies for many reasons, such as the airline, rank, and years of service, with the average salary over $200,000 in 2025. People choose an airline pilot career for a variety of reasons, first and foremost being their love of … Read more

How to Become a Commercial Pilot in 2025: The 16-Step Guide

So, what are the 16 steps? How do you become a commercial pilot flying a Boeing 787 as a Captain for a major airline? This 16-step guide is for you. Perhaps you’ve thought about flying as a hobby, but becoming a commercial pilot is actually a great career choice. What exactly defines a commercial pilot? Simply put, a commercial pilot is someone who has been approved by the FAA to charge for pilot services. Check Your Pilot Training Eligibility! Types of Commercial Pilots Whether you become a captain for Emirates, a fighter pilot as a U.S. Air Force veteran, or a corporate jet pilot in India, the sky truly is the limit. How long does it take to become a … Read more

How real is the pilot shortage? After 50 years as a pilot, I can tell you it’s very real and not improving any time soon. Here’s why…

Did you know the aviation industry will need 120,000 new pilots in North America alone over the next 20 years? Yet, flight training schools can’t keep up with the demand. I have been in the aviation business for decades, as was my father and as is my son. Although we’ve seen an occasional blip, the pilot shortage has been a reality since commercial flight became available to the public. If the pilot shortage is on your radar, continue reading to learn more. The Global Pilot Shortage: History, Causes, and Future Concerns The aviation industry continues to face significant challenges as the pilot shortage around the world remains a critical issue. It has intensified, impacting commercial aviation, military operations, and regional … Read more

When the Clock Stops: Embracing the Journey from Active Pilot to Retirement

Some pilots are ready to retire when the time comes. Others already have their eye on a second career. When the time comes, whether by choice or another reason, such as medical, have a plan. No matter your age, all pilots should think about what comes next when their flying career ends. Approximately 2,500 pilots retire each year in the U.S. The Unspoken Question: “What is Happening to My Flying Skills?” While cleaning the aircraft in the hangar, a pilot reflects on a recent landing. “What was that?” The question is not just about the landing but a deeper search into the changes they’re experiencing. Years of flying experience seem to be at odds with recent performances. This raises a … Read more

Types of Pilot Licenses: From Part-Time Hobby to Lifetime Career and Everything In Between

You want to become a pilot, but did you know the FAA issues different types of pilot licenses? These vary by classifications, ratings, and various regulations. Depending on your pilot license and ratings, you will be licensed to fly different types of aircraft. Above all, you can even fly for commercial airlines as a paid professional certified pilot. Whether you’re an international student or American student, you just have to decide which pilot license meets your needs. Therefore, you need to think about your pilot goals. What is a pilot license? In simple terms, a pilot’s license, or pilot certificate, allows a person to be able to fly an aircraft. This is similar to a driver’s license allowing you to … Read more

Future Flying Forecast

The future flying forecast may have seemed bleak during the Covid-19 pandemic, but fluctuations and furloughs are not forever. Bloomberg News, September 2001: “Thousands of workers losing their jobs at American Airlines. United Airlines reports the gravest times in its history. Eight of the largest airlines in the United States have implemented over 78,000 furloughs since the terrorist attacks. Prior to these massive furloughs, the airlines were reporting record employment.” Furloughs in aviation are nothing new. One of the earliest sequences of layoffs occurred during World War I (1914–1918). At the beginning and during the war, the demand for pilots far exceeded the training capabilities. Production of pilots and aircraft could not happen fast enough. After the war, air mail … Read more

Pilots as Mechanics: Should You Become Both?

Becoming an aircraft mechanic is a rewarding career. So is becoming a pilot. So, why would anyone go to the trouble of becoming both? After all, you’ll likely choose one or the other for a career. There are many good reasons why people choose to train in both fields. For example, a professional pilot who has become trained as an aircraft mechanic is more likely to notice if something seems ‘off’ during flight. This is a safety issue. Just as an auto mechanic would notice a problem while driving, an A&P would notice a problem with flying. Likewise, a professional mechanic who is also a pilot knows exactly how the controls should feel or how the engine should sound. The … Read more

This is your Captain speaking…

Captain Judy’s Corner: The Importance of Understanding the Ignition System You have envisioned sitting in the left seat announcing to the passengers, “This is your Captain speaking, sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.” Awaking from your dream, you look over at the mounds of study material open on the desk. What do I need to know to become a pilot? Nothing as an Earthling prepares a student for the amount of what seems like alien knowledge and skills required to become a pilot. A few examples of this knowledge required to earn a certificate are the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) comparable to studying a legal document; then understanding weather as an amateur meteorologist; and, one of my favorite examples, … Read more

Tuition Reimbursement to Address Pilot Shortage

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Dec. 31, 2017 Contact for more information Return to Media Addressing Pilot Shortage Through Innovative Collaborations:Education and Career without Student Loan Debt New Smyrna Beach, FL – While airline professionals and legislators continue the debate on how to resolve the growing pilot shortage, Epic Flight Academy and Ameriflight have proactively established commercial pilot career pathways. The Professional Pilot Pathway Program, launched by Epic in 2015, now includes $60,000 tuition-reimbursement through its partnership with Ameriflight. This means student pilots entering the program with no previous aviation experience have the opportunity to qualify to work as a captain of a turbine aircraft in just 2.5 years. At the end of 5.5 years, these pilots could have the qualifications to … Read more

5 Unique Pilot Jobs You’ll Want to Know About

When you think about a career as a pilot, you probably picture a more traditional role, such as a commercial airline pilot or a certified flight instructor. The most exotic pilot job that people think of tends to be someone flying banners along the beach advertising the all-you-can-eat special at the local seafood joint. While all of these are certainly good jobs with good salaries, especially with the current shortage of commercial airline pilots, you may end up pursuing a different career path in aviation than you first envisioned. The following is not an exhaustive list of options for a career in flying, but they are our favorites in the “most unusual” category. In no particular order, here are some … Read more