Employers
There are approximately 122,350 civilian aircraft pilots and flight engineers in the United States. The majority (84,520) work as airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers. The rest are commercial pilots. The commercial airlines, including both passenger and cargo transport companies, are the primary employers of pilots. Some pilots work for air-taxi companies, and others work for businesses that provide services such as crop dusting, pipeline inspections, or sightseeing trip. Pilots also work in general aviation, and many are trained and employed by the military.
Starting Out
A large percentage of commercial pilots have received their training in the armed forces. A military pilot who wants to apply for a commercial airplane pilot's license is required to pass only the Federal Aviation Regulations examination if application is made within a year after leaving the service.
Pilots possessing the necessary qualifications and license may apply directly to a commercial airline for a job. If accepted, they will go through a company orientation course, usually including both classroom instruction and practical training in company planes.
Those who are interested in becoming business pilots will do well to start their careers in mechanics. They may also have military flying experience, but the strongest recommendation for a business pilot's job is an airframe and power plant (A and P) rating. They should also have at least 500 hours of flying time and have both commercial and instrument ratings on their license. They apply directly to the firm for which they would like to work.
- Adventure Travel Specialists
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Technicians
- Aerospace Engineers
- Aerospace Medicine Physicians
- Agricultural Pilots
- Air Traffic Controllers
- Aircraft Mechanics
- Airplane Dispatchers
- Airport Security Personnel
- Airport Service Workers
- Amusement Park Workers
- App Services Workers
- Architects
- Armored Truck Drivers
- Astronauts
- Astronomers
- Astrophysicists
- Autonomous Vehicle Safety and Test Drivers
- Aviation Safety Inspectors
- Avionics Engineers
- Avionics Technicians
- Bicycle Mechanics
- Biosecurity Monitors
- Business Managers
- Chemical Technicians
- Chemists
- Computer Network Administrators
- Computer Programmers
- Computer Systems Programmer/Analysts
- Cruise Ship Workers
- Cryptographic Technicians
- Customer Service Representatives
- Customs Officials
- Driverless Car Engineers
- Drone Engineers
- Drone Manufacturing Workers
- Drone Pilots
- Drone Repair Technicians
- Electrical Engineering Technologists
- Electrical Engineers
- Electronics Engineering Technicians
- Electronics Engineers
- Engineering Technicians
- Engineers
- Environmental Engineers
- Fleet Maintenance Technicians
- Flight Attendants
- Flight Instructors
- Fluid Power Technicians
- Futurists
- Gaming Occupations
- Green Transportation Careers
- Ground Services Workers
- Gunsmiths
- Hosts/Hostesses
- Hypersonics Engineers
- Hypersonics Technicians
- Inbound Tour Guides
- Industrial Engineers
- Industrial Traffic Managers
- Intelligence Officers
- Internet Security Specialists
- Laboratory Testing Technicians
- Laser Technicians
- Lifeguards and Swimming Instructors
- Mail Carriers
- Manufacturing Engineering Technologists
- Manufacturing Engineers
- Manufacturing Supervisors
- Materials Engineers
- Mechanical Engineers
- Meteorologists
- Military Pilots
- Military Police
- Military Recruiters
- Military Workers, Enlisted
- Military Workers, Officers
- Museum Attendants
- Museum Directors and Curators
- Music Venue Owners and Managers
- National Park Service Employees
- Non-Destructive Testing Specialists
- Optical Engineers
- Park Rangers
- Parking Attendants
- Physicists
- Postal Clerks
- Public Transportation Operators
- Quality Control Engineers
- Quality Control Technicians
- Radiation Protection Technicians
- Railroad Conductors
- Recreation Workers
- Reservation and Ticket Agents
- Resort Workers
- Robotics Engineers
- Robotics Technicians
- Sales Managers
- Ship's Captains
- Ski Resort Workers
- Spa Attendants
- Spa Managers
- Space Lawyers
- Space Pilots
- Space Tourism Managers
- Spacecraft Test Technicians
- Sports Facility Managers
- Sports Instructors and Coaches
- Stadium Ushers and Vendors
- Strength and Conditioning Coaches
- Swimming Pool Designers
- Taxi Drivers
- Toll Collectors
- Tour Guides
- Traffic Engineers
- Transportation Engineers
- Transportation Planners
- Travel Agents
- Truck Dispatchers
- Truck Drivers
- Yoga and Pilates Instructors
- Zoo and Aquarium Curators and Directors