Welcome to the wonderful world of being a pilot!
Pilots are trained professionals who operate aircrafts to safely transport passengers and/or cargo. Their jobs are difficult and tiring, but with the right training, it is very worth it and has high pay too. Their job duties are conducting pre-flight inspections of systems and fuel, analyzing weather conditions, filing flight plans with air traffic control, navigating, managing in-flight emergencies, and communicating with the crew and passengers.
Some pros of the career are the high pay, exciting lifestyle, and the flexible work schedule. On the other hand, some cons are the long and irregular schedule because they have to work for longer hours (depending on the time of the flight), as well as working on holidays. Pilots work in a highly team-based environment, working closely with co-pilots, cabin crew, and ground staff.
There are 3 main types of pilots such as:
- Airline Pilots – the people who fly for commercial airlines, transporting passengers and/or cargo on scheduled routes.
- Commercial Pilots – conduct specialized flights, including charter flights, rescue operations, firefighting, or aerial photography.
- Military Pilots – operate advanced aircraft for national defense, combat, and logistical missions.
Pilots are measured by their amount of hours flying, and for an airline pilot you need to have 1,500 hours of flight time. This does mean that a college degree is not necessary. Airline pilots in Washington state earn an average of $147,000 to $185,000 per year as of early 2026, with top earners exceeding $300,000 a year.
Sources:
- https://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/
- https://atpflightschool.com/become-a-pilot/airline-career/commercial-pilot-salary.html
- https://acronaviationacademy.com/usa/how-to-become-a-pilot-in-the-usa/airline-pilot-salary/
