Hiring guide · Transportation & Logistics
How to Hire an Airline Pilot
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring airline pilots, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $232,140), recruit through CDL schools and trucking academies, verify ATP certificate where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for airline pilots
There are about 104,600 airline pilots employed in the U.S., with roughly 11,200 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +8.3% from 2025–35 (much faster than average). Expect competition for qualified candidates: speed and a strong offer matter.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $106,710–$182,280 | $51.30–$87.63 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $232,140 | $111.61 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $384,440 | $184.83 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $463,830 | $223.00 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Bachelor's degree (typical entry level)
- Licensing or certification required in your state
- Aircraft operation
- Decision-making
Nice-to-haves
- ATP certificate
- First-class medical
- Type rating
- Experience with flight management systems
Where to find airline pilots
- CDL schools and trucking academies
- Local workforce centers and staffing partners
- Military transition programs
- Referral bonuses for current drivers and associates
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Airline Captain, First Officer, Copilot, Flight Engineer
Screening checklist
- CDL, endorsements and DOT medical card for drivers
- Motor vehicle record and FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse query for CDL drivers
- Forklift operator training and evaluation, which OSHA requires employers to provide
- Pre-employment drug screening according to policy and law
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Why fly for an airline?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
2. “Describe a tough flight.”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
3. “How do you handle disagreement in the cockpit?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
4. “How do you manage fatigue?”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
5. “What aircraft have you flown?”
What a strong answer includes: List.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Build Flight Hours Toward the ATP (see the steps)
- Prepare for an Airline Interview (see the steps)
- Use Crew Resource Management on the Flight Deck (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as ATP, First officer, Captain
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Airline Pilot 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Airline Pilot training. Show them the path forward: Flight Instructor → Regional First Officer → Major Airline First Officer → Captain.
Hiring airline pilots: FAQ
How much should I pay an airline pilot?
The U.S. median wage for airline pilots is $232,140 per year, according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($182,280), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($384,440). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should an airline pilot have?
BLS lists “bachelor's degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for ATP certificate and First-class medical where relevant, plus skills such as aircraft operation, navigation, and weather.
How long does it take to train a new airline pilot?
Becoming qualified typically takes Years of flight training and hours. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “moderate-term on-the-job training.”