DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA
53-2012 Commercial Pilots
Occupational Description:
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. Excludes ?Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians? (17-3024).| Percentiles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | Employment | Emp SE* | Mean | Mean SE* | 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
| Minnesota | 380 | 34 | $116,478/yr | $8,386/yr | $50,738/yr | $69,995/yr | $99,153/yr | $148,040/yr | $199,626/yr |
| U S | 37,830 | 984 | $105,208/yr | $2,946/yr | $46,514/yr | $64,473/yr | $88,036/yr | $125,867/yr | $183,518/yr |
| *SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate. | |||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation (click title for details) | OES | Projections | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | Median Wage | % Change 2023 - 2025 | |
| Locomotive Engineers | 840 | $34.11/hr | 4.9% |
| First-Line Supervisors/Managers of Fire Fighting and Prevention Workers | 680 | $37.13/hr | 1.7% |
| Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | N/A | $38.80/hr | 4.6% |
Tasks for Commercial Pilots
- Starts engines, operates controls, and pilots airplane to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plan and regulations and procedures.
- Orders changes in fuel supply, load, route, or schedule to ensure safety of flight.
- Operates radio equipment and contacts control tower for takeoff, clearance, arrival instructions, and other information.
- Holds commercial pilot's license issued by Federal Aviation Administration.
- Logs information, such as flight time, altitude flown, and fuel consumption.
- Gives training and instruction in aircraft operations for students and other pilots.
- Plans and formulates flight activities and test schedules and prepares flight evaluation reports.
- Conducts in-flight tests and evaluations, at specified altitudes, in all types of weather to determine receptivity and other characteristics of equipment and systems.
- Coordinates flight activities with ground-crew and air-traffic control, and informs crewmembers of flight and test procedures.
- Conducts preflight checks and reads gauges to verify that fluids and pressure are at prescribed levels.
- Obtains and reviews data, such as load weight, fuel supply, weather conditions, and flight schedule.
- Plots flight pattern and files flight plan with appropriate officials.
