by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew involves the study of Airline/commercial/professional Pilot And Flight Crew. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Apply Technical Knowledge And Skills To The Flying And/or Navigation Of Commercial Passenger And Cargo, Agricultural, Public Service, Corporate And Rescue Fixed Wing Aircraft. Includes Instruction In Principles Of Aircraft Design And Performance, Aircraft Flight Systems And Controls, Flight Crew Operations And Procedures, Radio Communications, Navigation Procedures And Systems, Airways Safety And Traffic Regulations, And Governmental Rules And Regulations Pertaining To Piloting Aircraft. Programs May Qualify Individuals To Sit For The Faa Commercial And Airline Aircrew Examinations. Continue reading for the essential details every airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew programs.
Across the country, airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew is a widely-pursued major, with 2,249 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew Schools ranking analyzes these 103 schools to determine the best overall colleges for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew programs later in this article.
Studies in Airline/Commercial/Professional Pilot & Flight Crew develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 106 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 918 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 716 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 430 |
People currently working in careers related to airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.8% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 20.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 13.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 9.8% |
| Some college courses | 5.3% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 5.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.3% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew can lead to a variety of career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 1,094,880 | -1.9% |
| Commercial Pilots | 368,702 | -1.8% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $54,735 |
| 4 years | $69,369 |
| 5 years | $80,156 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $58,648 |
| Commercial Pilots | $43,713 |
With 103 different airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew school rankings to help you.
Those considering airline/commercial/professional pilot & flight crew, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Aeronautics/Aviation/Aerospace Science and Technology, General | 6,327 |
| Aviation/Airway Management and Operations | 1,786 |
| Air Transportation, Other | 315 |
| Air Traffic Controller | 189 |
| Remote Aircraft Pilot | 127 |
| Airline Flight Attendant | 47 |
| Flight Instructor | 30 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
