Occupations/53-2012.00
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.
Usually a certificate, vocational program, or associate degree — not a bachelor’s.
AI automation risk
34%
More resilient
Human characteristics
72%
Strong human-characteristic mix
Task orientation
59%
Mixed exposure
A day in this job
- Mostly routine
Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
- Mostly routine
Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
- Mostly routine
Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
The tasks we can read here lean routine. That sits next to the AI risk rank — it is not a forecast that the job disappears.
Core tasks
- 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.
Model drivers (O*NET 1–5)
- Repeating same tasks3.67
- Degree of automation2.06
- Time sitting4.34
- Originality (ability)3.00
- Conflict situations2.94
- Hands-on objects/tools3.56
- Outdoors / weather3.72
- Disease exposure2.43
- Decision freedom4.81
Top abilities
- Problem Sensitivity4.12
- Perceptual Speed4.12
- Near Vision4.12
- Control Precision4.12
- Selective Attention4.00
- Response Orientation4.00
- Reaction Time4.00
- Oral Expression4.00
Essential skills
- Reading Comprehension3.75
- Active Listening3.88
- Writing3.00
- Speaking3.75
- Mathematics2.75
- Science2.62
- Critical Thinking4.00
- Active Learning3.62
- Learning Strategies3.12
- Monitoring4.12
CIP matches
Schools offering related programs
12 of 13 shown
Earnings are College Scorecard medians for that program, 1 and 2 years after completion. A dash means the Department suppressed the cell or the campus is not in the field file.
| Institution | Program | Tuition | Admit | Grad 6-yr | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minnesota State University-Mankato Mankato, MN · Public | Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 49.0102 | $9,700 | 71% | 62% | 1 yr $55,061 2 yr $51,106 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
North Dakota State University Fargo, ND · Public | Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 49.0102 | $10,900 | 96% | 68% | 1 yr $51,035 2 yr $43,368 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
Purdue University-Main Campus West Lafayette, IN · Public | Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 49.0102 | $10,000 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $47,494 2 yr $41,789 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
San Jose State University San Jose, CA · Public | Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 49.0102 | $8,200 | 77% | 71% | 1 yr $46,478 2 yr $41,937 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
Miami Dade College Miami, FL · Public | Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 49.0102 | $2,900 | 100% | 41% | 1 yr $42,774 2 yr — Associate · CIP 49.01 |
Ohio State University-Main Campus Columbus, OH · Public | Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 49.0102 | $12,800 | 53% | 83% | 1 yr $41,342 2 yr $46,869 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
Minneapolis Community and Technical College Minneapolis, MN · Public | Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 49.0102 | $5,900 | 100% | 28% | 1 yr — 2 yr $40,368 Associate · CIP 49.01 |
Arizona State University Campus Immersion Tempe, AZ · Public | Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 49.0102 | $12,000 | 90% | 69% | 1 yr $40,017 2 yr $38,072 Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
St Cloud State University St. Cloud, MN · Public | Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 49.0102 | $9,600 | 95% | 56% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
Century College White Bear Lake, MN · Public | Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 49.0102 | $6,000 | 100% | 31% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Associate · CIP 49.01 |
South Dakota State University Brookings, SD · Public | Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 49.0102 | $9,600 | 99% | 66% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA · Private nonprofit | Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot and Flight Crew 49.0102 | $68,200 | 12% | 92% | 1 yr — 2 yr — Bachelor's · CIP 49.01 |