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What is a line pilot and how to become one
A line pilot or a pilot's main duty is to transport cargo and passengers to their destination safely. Furthermore, they are responsible for running checklists, performing all necessary inspections, reporting any deviations to the management, and acting accordingly during emergencies. They must also maintain a good working relationship with their co-pilots and flight attendants to ensure a good working environment on the plane.
More than that, a line pilot must provide great customer service to all passengers. That said, they may have to answer passenger queries, greet passengers while deboarding or onboarding, and calming passengers during times of turbulence during the flight.
A bachelor's degree is not required for the role of a line pilot, but one must have an airline transport pilot license (ATPL) before one can work as one. Proper training and on-the-job experience are also a must.
As a line pilot, one's annual earnings can range from $47,000 to $121,000 in the U.S. As for the median salary, a line pilot can earn an average of $70,000 per year.
Avg. Salary $96,403
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 6%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.26%
Asian 2.78%
Black or African American 2.73%
Hispanic or Latino 7.19%
Unknown 5.57%
White 81.48%
Genderfemale 10.70%
male 89.30%
Age - 44American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 44Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Line Pilot career paths
Key steps to become a line pilot
Explore line pilot education requirements
Start to develop specific line pilot skills
Skills 
Percentages EMS 42.52% Helicopter 26.35% Federal Aviation 23.05% NVG 5.11% PIC 0.75% Complete relevant line pilot training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New line pilots learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a line pilot based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real line pilot resumes.Research line pilot duties and responsibilities
- Serve as a professional pilot managing a flight crew and ensuring safe transportation of VIP's internationally.
- Charter pilot, piston twins, turbine twins, AC690B, BE90 PIC.
- Ensure compliance with FAA regulations and safe operation of AS350 aircraft.
- Update avionics electronic devices with the latest software upgrades and reprogram electronic GPS devices.
Prepare your line pilot resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your line pilot resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a line pilot resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Line Pilot Resume templates
Build a professional Line Pilot resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Line Pilot resume.
Apply for line pilot jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a line pilot job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Line Pilot Job
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Average line pilot salary
The average Line Pilot salary in the United States is $96,403 per year or $46 per hour. Line pilot salaries range between $67,000 and $137,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do line pilots rate their job?
Line Pilot reviews
challenges career opportunities learning opportunities
Workload 24/7 availability
Every day at work was different. Each flight was different and flying an airplane well is challenging. When an airline pilot has completed their flight assignment they go home and do not think about the job until the next time they go to work. The FAA regulations require rest periods and days off for pilots. A normal flight schedule offers 8- 20 days off per month. A pilot can choose to fly trips that are 1- 12 days long. Most airlines have a seniority system. This means that the airplane and crew position are determined by the date you were hired. Generally speaking, Senior pilots are Captains that fly the airplane with highest pay rate. Senior pilots also have the best flight schedule. Starting pay at the major airlines in 2019 is about $85,000 year. Senior pilots flying wide-body airplanes can earn up to $600,000 year flying an international schedule
Jet-lag. Fatigue is a fact of life for an airline pilot. Domestic flying often includes trips that depart at 11:00 PM and arrive early in the morning. International trips fly all over the world at all hours of the day. Pilots learn to deal with jet-lag and fatigue, but it remains a fact of life for most aviators
Updated January 8, 2025
