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2 MIN READ

Commercial Airline Pilot Salary: How Much?

By Blue Line Aviation on Apr 5, 2022 12:30:00 AM

Flying for commercial airlines is a rewarding career, with perks that few jobs can match. A career in flying comes with excellent pay and an incredibly high amount of personal and career satisfaction. Learning more about the salary range and job outlook for commercial airline pilots can help you understand why flying for a living is an outstanding career choice.

Salary and Job Growth

How much do commercial airline pilots make? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median pay for commercial airline pilots is $130,440 per year. The U.S. currently has 113,900 commercial pilots, and the industry is expected to add 14,700 more pilots by 2030. The job growth for commercial airline pilots from 2020 to 2030 is 13 percent, which is faster than average. When you become a commercial airline pilot, you can expect to earn a good salary and have plenty of job opportunities available.

Benefits Add Up

The benefits that come with being a commercial airline pilot are another reason to consider this career. In most cases, companies offer commercial airline pilots health, life, and disability insurance. These benefits often exceed the benefits that are offered in other fields. Having these benefits available can make this kind of career even more lucrative when combined with a high salary.

Factors That Affect Commercial Airline Pilot Salaries

Commercial airline pilot salaries can vary depending on certain factors. While some might earn less than the median salary, others end up earning a much higher salary. In fact, BLS states that some commercial airline pilots earn more than $200,920 per year. The factors that affect these salaries include experience level and which airline you work for. Having seniority or more experience often comes with higher pay when you’re a commercial airline pilot. Different airlines also offer different salaries for pilots. Other factors that can affect your salary include whether you work for a regional or major airline, the type of aircraft you fly, and your level of education. When you’re estimating how much you might make as a commercial airline pilot, you should take all of these factors into consideration.

How to Become a Commercial Airline Pilot

What does it take to become a commercial airline pilot? Your first step is getting your private pilot certificate, then adding an instrument rating. This rating allows you to fly your aircraft under Instrument Flight Rules and in different kinds of weather conditions. 

Once you have your private pilot certificate and instrument rating, you’ll need your commercial pilot certificate. This certificate, which involves meeting certain standards and experience requirements, allows you to legally receive pay to fly. 

After earning your commercial pilot certificate, it is recommended to receive a flight instructor certificate. This certificate allows you to earn flight experience in order to work for airlines while also earning a living as a pilot. 

Adding a multi-engine rating next allows you to fly aircraft with multiple engines, which is the majority of big passenger airliners. You’ll have to accrue 1,500 hours of flight time before looking for jobs as an airline pilot.

Choosing The Right Flight School

When you decide to become an airline pilot, you’ll find many flight schools to choose from. However, it’s important to choose the right one for your training, which helps ensure that you receive a quality education. When comparing flight schools, you should focus on certain factors, such as the school’s reputation, instructors, and aircraft. 

The right flight school will have a solid reputation, as well as experienced instructors and the right aircraft for training. Other factors to think about when choosing a flight school include the location and cost. Also look at the flight simulators the school offers. Flight simulator time is more affordable than time in the air.

Also look at time to completion. Blue Line Aviation students launch their commercial pilot career in under 6 months. 

Start Your Commercial Pilot Career Today

If you’re ready to get started on your career as an airline pilot, contact Blue Line Aviation. Call an advisor at 919-578-3713 today for more information on our commercial training program. We offer one of the fastest flight school programs in the nation for those who aspire to have a career in aviation as a pilot!

Blue Line Aviation, established in 2012, is one of only a few flight schools in the world to provide quality flight training programs at an accelerated pace. In as few as five and a half months, students can go from no experience to fully confident and certified pilots, fully prepared for a career in aviation. Schedule a tour of our new state-of-the-art facility (located at 3149B Swift Creek Road, Smithfield, North Carolina) and let your new career take flight. For more inquiries and additional information, please visit our website, find us on social media, or contact Ashley Tucker, our Vice President of Sales and Marketing, at (919) 578-3713 ext. 305.