Career comparison
Airline Pilot vs. Commercial Pilot
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Airline pilots earn more at the median ($232,140 vs. $123,220), while commercial pilots usually get to work faster (1–2 years of flight training of training). Airline pilots fly passenger and cargo jets for airlines. Commercial pilots fly airplanes and helicopters for charter, cargo, tours, agriculture and more.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Airline Pilot | Commercial Pilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $232,140 | $123,220 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $106,710 – $463,830 | $58,850 – $266,620 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +8.3% (much faster than average) | +5.2% (faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 11,200 | 5,200 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | Years of flight training and hours | 1–2 years of flight training |
| Key credential | ATP certificate | Commercial pilot certificate |
| Work setting | Pilots work in cockpits and travel for multiday trips.. | Pilots work in cockpits, on ramps and in flight planning offices. |
What each job does
Airline Pilot
- Plan flights
- Inspect aircraft
- Fly aircraft
- Communicate with ATC
- Monitor systems
Commercial Pilot
- Plan flights and check weather and NOTAMs
- Calculate weight, balance and performance
- Inspect aircraft before flight
- Fly safely under FAA regulations
- Communicate with air traffic control
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, travel, high responsibility, and in-demand. Both are part of the transportation & logistics field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose airline pilot if…
- I love flying
- I stay calm under pressure
- I follow procedures
Choose commercial pilot if…
- I’ve always wanted to fly
- I stay calm when things go wrong
- I can follow checklists precisely
Still torn? Take the Airline Pilot fit quiz and the Commercial Pilot fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, airline pilot or commercial pilot?
Airline Pilots earn more at the median: $232,140 versus $123,220 for commercial pilots, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Commercial Pilots typically train faster (1–2 years of flight training) than airline pilots (Years of flight training and hours).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects airline pilots to grow +8.3% from 2025–35, compared with +5.2% for commercial pilots.