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Career Profile

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

What they do:

Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, national, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots.

Also Called:

Airbus Captain, Airline Captain, Airline Pilot, Captain, Check Airman, Co-Pilot, Commercial Airline Pilot, First Officer (FO), Line Pilot, Pilot, Airbus Captain, Airline Captain, Airline Pilot, Captain, Check Airman, Co-Pilot, Commercial Airline Pilot, First Officer, Line Pilot, Pilot

MO Employment Data

*State data provided by O*NET & BLS
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$60,920
Starting Salary (2025)
$97,680
Median Salary (2025)
3.9%
Projected Job Growth
120
MO Employment (2025)

Typical Tasks

Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists.
Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.
Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.

A day in the life

What kind of work is this?

Realistic
Practical, Physical Work
Conventional
Organized, Procedural Work
Enterprising
Business based Work

What personality traits do you need to succeed?

Attention to Detail
Dependability
Self-Control
Cooperation
Stress Tolerance
Integrity

What key skills are needed for this job?

Operation and Control
Operations Monitoring
Critical Thinking
Active Listening
Monitoring
Judgment and Decision Making

Expected Knowledge

Transportation

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

English Language

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Public Safety and Security

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Common Activities

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Education & Preparation

Some occupations may require additional education, advanced degrees, and years of experience in the field.
Talk to your support team on campus about this career pathway and additional degree information.
Job Zone 4

Considerable Preparation Needed

Education

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Experience

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

Training

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Typical Education Required

Education a new hire may need

  • Bachelor's degree 61%
  • High school diploma 18%
  • Less than high school 8%
  • Associate's degree 6%
  • Post-secondary certificate 5%
  • Other 1%
Source: O*NET Education, Training & Experience data

Related Careers

Commercial Pilots
Airfield Operations Specialists
Air Traffic Controllers
Aircraft Service Attendants
Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels

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*Data on career profiles are based on information supplied by the O*NET Program, sponsored by U.S. Department of Labor, Employment, and Training Administration.