Fly aircraft for charter, cargo, medical, and other on-demand work outside scheduled airlines.
Cockpits of smaller aircraft and helicopters; varied, sometimes remote.
Irregular; on-call, nights, and weekends depending on the job.
May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
Certificate program
Training path: Flight ratings — no degree required.
Requires an FAA commercial pilot certificate and medical clearance.
Charter, cargo, medevac — six figures without the airline seniority ladder.
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Standard Occupational Classification 53-2012. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.