Commercial Pilots
Transportation, Distribution & Logistics · Transportation Operations
Pay and outlook shown for
New workers start near $71,800; experienced workers reach $206,610. About 240 people do this job in San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX.
Job outlook
Alamo region (San Antonio and 12 surrounding counties), Texas Workforce Commission projection 2024 to 2034; U.S. figures from the BLS.
- Employment change
- +13.9%
- Openings a year
- 38
- Employed in 2024
- 287
Typical entry education: Postsecondary nondegree award · Training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
Alamo Colleges programs that lead here
No program is mapped to this career yet. Many careers start from a transfer pre-major or a related program.
Browse all programsSkills this career uses
The skills O*NET rates most important for the job, with how much of each the work needs on a 1 to 7 scale.
- Operation and Control5.3
- Operations Monitoring4.8
- Monitoring4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Listening4.1
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8
- Reading Comprehension4.1
- Speaking3.8
What the work is
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.
- Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
- Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
- Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
- Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
- Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
- Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
Education people in this job have
Share of workers by highest education, from O*NET surveys. It shows what others did, not what you must do.
- High school or less44%
- Certificate36%
- Some college17%
- Associate degree1%
- Bachelor's degree2%
Job zone 3, medium preparation: Training, an associate degree, or a few years of related experience.
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