Commercial Pilot
Fly passengers and cargo safely across domestic and international routes
About the profession
Commercial Pilots operate aircraft carrying passengers and cargo for airlines and charter companies. The career demands extensive training, medical fitness, and accumulated flight hours. A massive pilot shortage worldwide has driven salaries to record highs, with major airline captains earning $300,000+. The path requires significant upfront investment in flight training but offers exceptional long-term compensation.
How to Get Started
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Career Match Test →Explore the Career Path section to see progression from junior to senior
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Jump to Learning Path →Career Path
Your career progression roadmap with salary growth at each level
Career Ladder
First Officer (Regional) → First Officer (Major) → Captain (Regional) → Captain (Major Airline) → Chief Pilot
Where are you on this career path?
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Salary Growth
5
Levels
0K
Top Salary
10+
Years
Learning Path
Skills you need to develop and courses to get there
🚀
Set your current level first
Go to the Career Path tab and select your current level to see your personalized learning plan.
Go to Career PathCareer levels
Base: $60,000 - $80,000/year Base: $90,000 - $130,000/year Base: $130,000 - $180,000/year Base: $180,000 - $250,000/year Base: $250,000 - $350,000/year
Skills used in this career
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Learning Path 0 → Junior
Step-by-step plan from zero to first job
Obtain Private Pilot License (PPL) and instrument rating Build flight hours through CFI (flight instructor) or Part 135 operations Earn Commercial Pilot License (CPL) and ATP…
Market 2026–2030
Trends, AI impact, prospects
Growth Rate: Above average through 2035 — severe pilot shortage Remote Trend: Primarily on-site — cockpit presence required Top Industries: Major airlines, regional airlines,…
💰 Salary Range
US dataSign up to see salary data
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