Is Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers a good career in 2026?▼
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers has a Career Health Score of 68/100, rated "Good." Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is a solid career with good salary and stability, though work-life balance could be a concern. The median salary is $158,250 per year. Employment is projected to grow 4% from 2022 to 2032, which is as fast as average.
How much do Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers make?▼
The median annual salary for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is $158,250 as of 2023. The bottom 10% earn around $84,690, while the top 10% earn over $253,100. The 75th percentile salary is $219,430.
What education do you need to become a Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineer?▼
The typical entry-level education for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is bachelor's degree. New hires typically receive moderate-term on-the-job training of on-the-job training.
Will AI replace Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?▼
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers are facing moderate AI automation risk, with an AI exposure score of 42%. The overall impact is classified as "Augmented." Key tasks that remain difficult to automate include takeoff and landing in challenging conditions and emergency decision-making and crisis management.
What is the job outlook for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers?▼
Employment for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is projected to grow 4% from 2022 to 2032, which is as fast as average. The economy is expected to add approximately 18,100 openings per year, including replacements for workers who transfer or retire.
What skills do Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers need?▼
The most important skills for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers include Aviation and Aeronautics, Situational Awareness, Decision Making Under Pressure, Instrument Proficiency, Communication. Key technical skills include Aviation and Aeronautics, Instrument Proficiency. Strong soft skills like Situational Awareness and Decision Making Under Pressure and Communication are also essential.