Commercial Pilots
SOC Code: 53-2012 Job Zone 3: Medium Preparation Needed
Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air carrier routes, or helicopters. Requires Commercial Pilot certificate. Includes charter pilots with similar certification, and air ambulance and air tour pilots. Excludes regional, national, and international airline pilots.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Commercial Pilots. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $154,814,400 | $315,550,560 | $476,284,640 | $637,020,800 |
| Savannah, GA | $190,923,200 | $337,515,360 | $484,105,440 | $630,697,600 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $224,848,000 | $352,200,160 | $479,550,240 | $606,902,400 |
| Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY | $222,310,400 | $348,878,400 | $475,446,400 | $602,014,400 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $337,771,200 | $419,438,240 | $501,107,360 | $582,774,400 |
| Waterbury-Shelton, CT | $353,891,200 | $428,307,360 | $502,721,440 | $577,137,600 |
| New Haven, CT | $353,891,200 | $428,307,360 | $502,721,440 | $577,137,600 |
| Connecticut nonmetropolitan area | $355,118,400 | $428,798,240 | $502,480,160 | $576,160,000 |
| Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $207,396,800 | $330,262,400 | $453,128,000 | $575,993,600 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $390,478,400 | $448,433,440 | $506,390,560 | $564,345,600 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Global Crossing Airlines, Inc. | 10 | $127,847 |
| Orbic Air LLC | 8 | $652,188 |
| TRANS-EXEC AIR SERVICE INC | 7 | $167,857 |
| Timberline Helicopters Inc | 7 | $87,271 |
| Guardian Helicopters, Inc. | 4 | $115,000 |
| Aero Spray Inc. | 3 | $145,600 |
| Air Cover Crop Solutions LLC | 3 | $61,580 |
| Brainerd Helicopters, Inc. | 3 | $85,515 |
| NE IA Helicopter LLC | 3 | $72,990 |
| Sky Flight 436, LLC. | 3 | $104,000 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4 | $69,892 |
| 2021 | 4 | $87,886 |
| 2022 | 5 | $105,720 |
| 2023 | 13 | $104,234 |
| 2024 | 42 | $98,036 |
| 2025 | 37 | $265,672 |
| 2026 | 4 | $142,814 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Operation and Control | 4.8 | |
| Operations Monitoring | 4.4 | |
| Monitoring | 4.1 | |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.9 | |
| Active Listening | 3.9 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.8 | |
| Speaking | 3.8 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 | |
| Active Learning | 3.6 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Customer and Personal Service | 4.2 |
| English Language | 4.0 |
| Transportation | 4.0 |
| Geography | 3.6 |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.6 |
| Mechanical | 3.4 |
| Law and Government | 3.3 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.2 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Some college | 36.4% |
| High school diploma | 28.6% |
| Post-secondary certificate | 16.9% |
| Less than high school | 15.1% |
| Master's degree | 1.2% |
| Associate's degree | 1.1% |
Typical Tasks
- Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
- Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
- Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
- Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
- Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
- Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
- Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes.
- Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Adobe Creative Cloud software Microsoft Office software AeroPlanner Aeronautical charts AirSmith FlightPrompt Airdata Airline Pilots Daily Aviation Log PPC ArduPilot Mission Planner Calibration software CloudCompare ESRI Site Scan for ArcGIS Electronic aircraft information databases FLIR Thermal Studio Suite Flight simulation software Kitty Hawk
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