Also called: Airline Captain, First Officer
Flies passengers and cargo on commercial airliners around the country and world.
You check weather and fuel, brief your crew, and fly from Chicago to Denver, then another leg before your layover. Seniority decides your schedule and pay.
Starting first officers earn far less than senior captains.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Airline Transport Pilot certificate (1,500 flight hours); most airlines prefer a bachelor's.
Ways in: 4-year college, Certification, Military. Training cost: $60k – $150k.
Majors to look at: Aviation/Professional Pilot, Aeronautical Science.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years).
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Automation already flies much of the route; reduced-crew long-haul flights may cut co-pilot seats by the mid-2030s, but captains stay human.
Classes: Physics, Earth science or meteorology, Math, Speech or debate.
Official data: O*NET occupation 53-2011.
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