| Important Core Job Duties (in order of importance) For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Steer aircraft along planned routes, using autopilot and flight management computers. |
| Importance: 100 (%) | Description: Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor. |
| Importance: 98 (%) | Description: Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings. |
| Importance: 98 (%) | Description: Confer with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters to keep abreast of flight conditions. |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights. |
| Importance: 88 (%) | Description: Brief crews about flight details, such as destinations, duties, and responsibilities. |
| Importance: 84 (%) | Description: Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights. |
| Importance: 82 (%) | Description: Direct activities of aircraft crews during flights. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Make announcements regarding flights, using public address systems. |
| Importance: 72 (%) | Description: Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations and the principles of flight. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Record in log books information, such as flight times, distances flown, and fuel consumption. |
Bachelor Degree Careers and Jobs (jobs after undergraduate degree)
Explore Careers and Jobs Predominantly Filled by Those with a Bachelor's Degree with or without Certificates - All On One Page
Sorted by median annual U.S. salary and including percentage of job holders with Bachelor's Degree.
A bachelor's degree qualifies graduates for a wide range of professional, technical, and management-track careers across nearly every industry. For people who want to compare where a four-year degree can lead before choosing a major or job. Compare careers ranked by salary, review degree-holder and experience percentages, and access preparation resources for each role.
Here is a short Helper Video 
.
This page will take you through 4 steps, relative to an Bachelor's Degree, to (1) Select a career, (2) Find active job listings, (3) Prepare for the career you chose, and (4) Provide web resources specific to the career you chose.
Step 1: Select a Career: You will be presented with a listing of Bachelor's Degree careers. The list may be quite long. There are two ways you might like to use this list:
1) Filter - As you enter a word, you will filter (limit) the list of careers below
2) Browse the list (Don't Filter) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover careers that might be of interest.
Once you have identified a career of interest, simply click on it.
Step 2: Find a Job: After you have selected a career/job title above, you will see a form asking for your location. You will see several radio selection choices to utilize the job search site of your choice.
Step 3: Prepare For a Career: In this section you will gain access to detailed information to help you prepare for the career you selected. Information includes core and supplemental duties, general and specific work activities, knowledge required, essential and transferable skills required, day-in-the-life summaries, knowledge required, software skills required, preparation required, educational requirements, training and work experience required, local salary information, certifications, professional associations, current job listings for the job selected along with multiple similar job titles, and related careers (related to what they do, what they know, and what they're called).
Step 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated): Continue to scroll down the page and you will find tabs that will provide detailed (updated) links to occupational information specific to the career you selected. This information includes:
Videos: Provides a listing of video links related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes: Sources for resume materials and techniques. This can help to get you started.
Job Description: Sources that provide job descriptions, which are vital to resume and interview preparation.
Interviews: Provides links that can help you to prepare for and successfully complete the job interview.
Step by Step: Provides links to resources that can help to organize the career search process.
LinkedIn: One of the best professional social media sites that provides links, opportunities, and networking specifically for careers and career development.
Step 1 of 4: Select a Career
Leading Books About Bachelor's Degree Jobs
What jobs can you get with a Bachelor's Degree? Scroll through the picklist (below). These are careers related to the Bachelor's Degree level, with at least 30% of job holders having a Bachelor's Degree. - 255 specific careers are listed, with matching jobs currently available. Select those careers that may be of interest - you will then get links to matching active job listings, and detailed resources to help you prepare.
You can use this form two ways:
1) Enter a Keyword - As you enter a keyword, you will filter (limit) the listing to those careers that contain the keyword entered
2) Browse the list (Don't enter a keyword) - You can simply browse the list of careers. There may be many that you might never have considered. This may help you to discover jobs that might be of interest.
OR - leave blank and scroll through the choices:
Select a Job Title - Sorted by Annual Salary -(scroll and Select) :
Legend: Career Title Link / (% having Bachelor's Degree) / (Median Annual U.S. Salary)
Step 2 of 4: Find a Job
Job Listings for: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers.
Step 3 of 4: Prepare For a Career
Prepare for the "Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers" Career
The details below will provide a pathway to your specific job goal and help you to identify an appropriate career ladder.
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Description: Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, national, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots.
Please click on a section below to expand and see detailed occupational information related to "Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers":
U.S. Total Employment (2023):
74,700U.S. Total Employment (2033 est.):
85,000
Employment Change (2023-2033 est.):
10,300 (13.7%) Average Annual Job Openings (2023-2033 est.):
9,600
Core Duties
Supplemental Duties
| Important Supplemental Job Duties (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control and inform crew members of flight and test procedures. |
| Importance: 37 (%) | Description: File instrument flight plans with air traffic control to ensure that flights are coordinated with other air traffic. |
| Importance: 36 (%) | Description: Evaluate other pilots or pilot-license applicants for proficiency. |
| Importance: 35 (%) | Description: Conduct in-flight tests and evaluations at specified altitudes and in all types of weather to determine the receptivity and other characteristics of equipment and systems. |
| Importance: 34 (%) | Description: Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports. |
| Importance: 30 (%) | Description: Perform minor maintenance work, or arrange for major maintenance. |
Work Activities
| Important General Work Activities (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 98 (%) | Description: Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. |
| Importance: 97 (%) | Description: Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. |
| Importance: 95 (%) | Description: Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
| Importance: 93 (%) | Description: Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. |
| Importance: 93 (%) | Description: Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. |
| Importance: 89 (%) | Description: Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. |
| Importance: 86 (%) | Description: Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles). |
| Importance: 80 (%) | Description: Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. |
| Importance: 79 (%) | Description: Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. |
| Importance: 75 (%) | Description: Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. |
| Importance: 71 (%) | Description: Working with Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. |
| Importance: 70 (%) | Description: Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity. |
| Importance: 69 (%) | Description: Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. |
Specific Work Activities
| Important Specific Work Activities
How can you begin to build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. Specific Work Activities appear below: |
|
| Arrange maintenance activities. | |
| Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds. | |
| Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement. | |
| Coordinate flight control or management activities. | |
| Evaluate performance of applicants, trainees, or employees. | |
| Inspect aircraft or aircraft components. | |
| Maintain locomotives or other rail equipment in good working condition. | |
| Meet with coworkers to communicate work orders or plans. | |
| Monitor engine operation or functioning. | |
| Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation. | |
| Monitor work environment to ensure safety or adherence to specifications. | |
| Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards. | |
| Pilot aircraft. | |
| Plan flight operations. | |
| Provide transportation information to passengers or customers. | |
| Record operational details of travel. | |
| Report vehicle or equipment malfunctions. | |
| Resolve issues affecting transportation operations. | |
| Respond to transportation emergencies. | |
| Test performance of aircraft equipment. | |
| Train transportation or material moving personnel. | |
Knowledge Required
| Knowledge Required (in order of importance)
For the Top 5 most important - How can you build experience and skill doing these? This will help now, to begin preparing for this type of occupation. |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 94 (%) | Description: Transportation: Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Public Safety and Security: Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. |
| Importance: 73 (%) | Description: Geography: Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. |
| Importance: 65 (%) | Description: Physics: Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Law and Government: Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. |
| Importance: 61 (%) | Description: Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. |
Essential Skills
| Essential Skills (in order of importance)
These are the foundational skills most central to success in this occupation. For the Top 5 most important, how can you begin building experience and confidence using these skills now? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. |
| Importance: 68 (%) | Description: Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively. |
| Importance: 62 (%) | Description: Active Learning: Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems. |
Transferable Skills
| Transferable Skills (in order of importance)
These are skills that can transfer across occupations and industries. For the Top 5 most important, how can you strengthen these skills now so they support both this career and future career flexibility? |
|
| Importance (%) | Description |
| Importance: 81 (%) | Description: Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems. |
| Importance: 77 (%) | Description: Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. |
| Importance: 66 (%) | Description: Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. |
| Importance: 64 (%) | Description: Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions. |
| Importance: 60 (%) | Description: Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Systems Analysis: Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes. |
| Importance: 54 (%) | Description: Systems Evaluation: Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it. |
| Importance: 52 (%) | Description: Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance. |
Day-in-the-Life Summaries
| Day-in-the-Life Summaries These summaries show the main types of activities you are likely to perform on a regular basis in this occupation. How can you imagine your typical workday — using these examples to see if this type of work fits you? |
| Activity: Communicate with others about operational plans or activities. |
| Activity: Determine operational methods or procedures. |
| Activity: Evaluate personnel capabilities or performance. |
| Activity: Inspect vehicles. |
| Activity: Intervene in crisis situations or emergencies. |
| Activity: Maintain operational records. |
| Activity: Maintain vehicles in working condition. |
| Activity: Manage control systems or activities. |
| Activity: Monitor equipment operation. |
| Activity: Monitor safety or security of work areas, facilities, or properties. |
| Activity: Notify others of emergencies or problems. |
| Activity: Operate transportation equipment or vehicles. |
| Activity: Plan work activities. |
| Activity: Provide information to guests, clients, or customers. |
| Activity: Resolve personnel or operational problems. |
| Activity: Schedule operational activities. |
| Activity: Test performance of equipment or systems. |
| Activity: Train others on operational or work procedures. |
Software Skills
|
Software Skills These are examples of software tools commonly used in this occupation, organized from most to least important for your career preparation. How can you start learning or practicing the highest-priority tools so that you feel confident using them on the job? |
|||||||||||
| High-Priority Tech Skills | |||||||||||
| Object or component oriented development software: | |||||||||||
| R | |||||||||||
| Emerging Tech Skills | |||||||||||
| Electronic mail software: | |||||||||||
| Microsoft Outlook | |||||||||||
| Office suite software: | |||||||||||
| Microsoft Office software | |||||||||||
| Presentation software: | |||||||||||
| Microsoft PowerPoint | |||||||||||
| Process mapping and design software: | |||||||||||
| Microsoft Visio | |||||||||||
| Spreadsheet software: | |||||||||||
| Microsoft Excel | |||||||||||
| Word processing software: | |||||||||||
| Microsoft Word | |||||||||||
| General Software Tools | |||||||||||
| Analytical or scientific software: | |||||||||||
| Pilot Navigator Software Load Balance | |||||||||||
| Calendar and scheduling software: | |||||||||||
| SBS International Maestro Suite | |||||||||||
| Data base user interface and query software (scroll table below): | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
| Information retrieval or search software: | |||||||||||
| AeroPlanner Notam Development Group Airport Insight | |||||||||||
| Object or component oriented development software: | |||||||||||
| Document Object Model DOM Scripting | |||||||||||
| Route navigation software: | |||||||||||
| IFT-Pro Navzilla |
Preparation Required
| Preparation Required - How much preparation is needed to obtain this type of job? |
| Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed |
| A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified. |
| Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not. |
| Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. |
| Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include real estate brokers, sales managers, database administrators, graphic designers, conservation scientists, art directors, and cost estimators. |
Education Required
| Education Required - by frequency of educational attainment This shows you details about the level of education most commonly held by workers in this occupation. How can you begin planning the educational pathway that will prepare you best for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Education |
| Frequency of Attainment: 61.0 (%) | Level of Education: Bachelor's Degree |
| Frequency of Attainment: 18.2 (%) | Level of Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 8.0 (%) | Level of Education: Less than a High School Diploma |
| Frequency of Attainment: 6.3 (%) | Level of Education: Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 5.1 (%) | Level of Education: Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) |
| Frequency of Attainment: 1.5 (%) | Level of Education: Some College Courses |
Training and Experience Required
| Training and Experience Required - by frequency of training and work experience attainment This section shows you how often different types of training and work experience are required for this occupation. How can you start gaining the kinds of experience and training that are most common for this type of work? |
|
| Frequency of Attainment (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience |
| Frequency of Attainment: 32.9 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 17.4 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 1 year, up to and including 2 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 16.0 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 14.2 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 8 years, up to and including 10 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 11.2 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 6 years, up to and including 8 years |
| Frequency of Attainment: 8.3 (%) | Level of Training and Work Experience: Over 10 years |
Local Salary Information
Select a State (scroll and Select) :
Please select a State to see State and National Salaries
Certifications
| Certifications These are examples of certifications that may be important for this occupation. How can you begin exploring which certifications fit your goals and what steps you would need to take to earn them? |
|
|
|
|
Airline Transport Pilot
| |
|
Flight Engineer
| |
Professional Associations
| Professional Associations These associations connect people who work in this occupation or related fields. How can you start using these associations to learn more, build your network, or find mentoring opportunities? |
|
|
|
|
|
Air Force Association (AFA)
| |
|
Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA)
| |
|
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)
| |
|
Airlines for America (A4A)
| |
|
Allied Pilots Association (APA)
| |
|
International Air Transport Association (IATA)
| |
|
International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA)
| |
|
National Air Transportation Association (NATA)
| |
Job Listings
Related Careers to Consider
Step 4 of 4: Career-Specific Resources (detailed and constantly updated)
This section contains detailed resources appropriate to "Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers". Explore these resources to start learning more. Links are constantly updated, so bookmark this page.
Videos
Here is a listing of videos related to this career. A great way to get a quick overview of the occupation.
Resumes
Here are resources that allow you to see example resumes for this occupation. It may be helpful to see examples from others who have this type of experience.
Job Description
Here are resources that provide job descriptions, which are vital for resume and interview preparation.
Interviews
There are many great resources that can help guide you through the interview process. These links provide help in preparing and performing an effective interview, specific to this occupation.
Step-by-Step
Here are links to help guide you, step-by-step, to become a(n): Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
LinkedIn®
Here are links to various posts and groups from LinkedIn ® that relate to this occupation. Great way to start building professional contacts in the field that might be most appropriate for you.
Developed by Dr. Ralph Jagodka © 2026 About This Page
© 2026 - Disclaimer - Privacy