Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers

Significant Points

Regional and low-fare airlines offer the best opportunities; pilots attempting to get jobs at the major airlines will face strong competition.
Pilots usually start with smaller commuter and regional airlines to acquire the experience needed to qualify for higher paying jobs with national or major airlines.
Many pilots have learned to fly in the military, but growing numbers have college degrees with flight training from civilian flying schools that are certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Earnings of airline pilots are among the highest in the Nation.

Area and Industry employment and wages
Airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers: (Area) (Industry)
Commercial pilots: (Area) (Industry)

Also see Aircraft pilots and flight engineers in the 2004-05 Occupational Outlook Handbook
Blog: ocouha weblog
See the Occupational Outlook Handbook in print.