You'll need good math skills, an undergraduate degree, a clean criminal record, a medical certificate, a lot of time and a bunch of money to get this dream job. You don't want to wait too long to get started, either, because Federal law requires that you retire at 60. But, if your idea of fun is traveling the globe in the cockpit of a 747, this job's for you.
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Pilots Salaries are based on length in the job, position (1st officer, 2nd officer, captain), type of plane, and personal flight pay credits (FPC), a measure of hours worked. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for commercial pilots is $129,250.
Get Your Foot in the Door
The best way to become a commercial pilot is to start with the military. While you will give up ten years of your life and may end up flying combat missions, most qualified (and best paid) pilots go through the Navy or Air force.
If you chose to go the civilian route, start saving your money. You'll need an undergraduate degree, a commercial pilot certificate and a minimum of 250 hours flight time. Most major airlines won't hire you without a thousand hours. To get an airline transport pilot certificate, you'll need to pass a written test, have a first class medical certificate and 1,500 hours flight time including 250 hours as the pilot in charge. In a nutshell, expect to spend eight to ten years and pay between $250,000 to $500,000.
