Best Careers: Commercial Pilot

The rundown:

For pilots, airlines aren't the only game in town. Commercial pilots work for other employers, often transporting passengers and/or cargo. Some are agricultural pilots who dust crops; others monitor ground traffic for television stations, fly corporate executives to meetings and trade shows, test-fly planes, or assist police and firefighters with rescue. Commercial pilots have plenty to juggle: consulting with dispatchers and aviation weather forecasters, carefully coordinating takeoff and landing, monitoring fuel supply and the condition of engines, and, of course, steering the plane. Pilots must undergo rigorous training in skills such as navigation and cockpit instrumentation, and they must accumulate many hours of flying experience.

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The outlook:

Employment in this field is expected to grow 19 percent through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. An estimated 7,300 new jobs will be added. With mergers and cutbacks in the industry, a lot of furloughed pilots are currently competing for jobs. But that should ease as the economy improves, air traffic picks up, and a lot of aging pilots retire.

Money:

In 2009, median income for commercial pilots was $65,840, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Budding aviators should know, however, that many jobs at regional airlines come with low pay for long hours. And often, you have to pay for your own training, which can be expensive.

Upward mobility:

The government recently toughened the requirements for pilots hoping to work for an airline, requiring a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight time before a pilot can transport passengers. That could discourage some aspiring pilots, but also reduce the competition for airline positions, eventually. The dream job, of course, is to captain a big jet for a six-figure salary, but with promotions based on seniority, the top jobs are scarce. Most airline pilots work their way up through small, regional carriers, retaining the flexibility to relocate in order to jump on opportunities.

Activity level:

Variable. While piloting a plane, you won't move far from the cockpit. Commercial pilots also have plenty of responsibilities to tend to on the ground, such as recordkeeping, maintenance, and loading the aircraft.

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Stress level:

Moderate. Most flights are uneventful, and many planes are highly automated. But emergencies obviously require an ability to handle pressure. Some jobs involve specific job hazards. Test pilots, for example, must tolerate the risks associated with flying experimental aircraft. Many jobs involve odd hours and irregular schedules.

Education and preparation:

Many pilots earn their wings in the military, and others attend civilian flying schools. These days, most heading into the field have a college degree—a growing preference among employers. Pilots who are paid to transport passengers or cargo are required to have a commercial pilot's license with an instrument rating issued by the FAA.

Real advice from real people on how to land a job as a commercial pilot:

"I got my commercial certificate, then my flight instructor certification. So I was teaching, and making a living flying a Cessna 172 with a traffic reporter. That added up to about six hours of flying every day. I also flew a nighttime cargo route between L.A. and Sacramento, then flew an on-demand passenger charter. By the time American Eagle hired me in 1999, I had 2,500 hours of flying time. If you're not coming from the military, that's a typical sort of progression." — Dave Ryter, American Eagle pilot and chairman of Air Line Pilots Association education committee.

Suggested job searches: Pilot jobs | Flight Attendant jobs | Cargo Operations jobs| Airport Ground Crew jobs