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First Officer Pilot Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

City First

Chief Credit Officer

Washington, DC · On-site

$160K - $200K/yr

THE POSITION City First Enterprises (CFE) seeks an experienced Chief Credit Officer (CCO) to lead ... Pilot and scale AI-enabled capabilities - such as automated document and financial-statement ...

Cape

Forward Deployed Engineer, Federal

Arlington, VA · On-site

About Cape Cape is America's privacy-first mobile carrier. Our mission is to be a force for good in ... Lead customer exercises, pilots, and demonstrations; structure them to produce decision-quality ...

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First Officer Pilot information

What is a first officer pilot?

First Officer Pilots, also known as co-pilots, are licensed aviators who assist the Captain in operating an aircraft. They share responsibilities such as flying the plane, communicating with air traffic control, and performing safety checks before, during, and after flights. While the Captain has overall command, the First Officer is fully qualified to take control if needed and often alternates flying duties with the Captain. This role is critical for ensuring the safety and efficiency of commercial flights.

What does a first officer pilot do?

On commercial flights, the first officer pilot is the second pilot on the plane. Your responsibilities in this career are to assist the captain to fly the plane. As the co-pilot, if the captain is incapacitated, you take command of the plane. On many flights, the first officer and the captain share the duties of piloting the plane, taking turns while the other one monitors controls and provides backup as needed. In commercial airline command structure, there is also a designation for the senior first officer, which is typically someone who qualifies as a captain, but the airline does not have enough flights to make that person a captain.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a first officer pilot, and why are they important?

To thrive as a First Officer Pilot, you need a commercial pilot license (CPL), strong aeronautical knowledge, and extensive flight training with logged flight hours. Proficiency with modern avionics, flight management systems (FMS), and aircraft-specific certifications like a type rating are typically required. Excellent situational awareness, teamwork, communication, and decision-making skills help a First Officer operate safely within a cockpit crew. These competencies are vital for ensuring passenger safety, regulatory compliance, and effective collaboration during routine and emergency situations.

What are some common challenges first officer pilots face during their initial years on the job?

First Officer Pilots often encounter challenges such as adapting to irregular work schedules, managing fatigue from long or overnight flights, and quickly learning to operate various aircraft types. Additionally, they must develop strong communication and coordination skills to work effectively with captains and cabin crew, often under time pressure. Building confidence in decision-making and handling unexpected situations, such as adverse weather or technical issues, is also a key part of the learning curve in this role.

What is the difference between First Officer Pilot vs Captain Pilot?

AspectFirst Officer PilotCaptain Pilot
CertificationsCommercial Pilot License (CPL), Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) often requiredSame as First Officer, but with additional experience and hours
Work EnvironmentFlight crew member assisting the captain, flying under supervisionLead pilot responsible for flight operations and decision-making
Roles & ResponsibilitiesAssist the captain, handle navigation, communication, and safety proceduresOversee the flight, make critical decisions, manage crew and safety

The main difference between a First Officer Pilot and a Captain Pilot lies in their roles and responsibilities. The First Officer assists the captain and operates under supervision, while the Captain leads the flight, makes final decisions, and manages the crew. Both roles require similar certifications, but the Captain typically has more experience and authority.

More about First Officer Pilot jobs

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For First Officer Pilot jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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The top searched job categories for First Officer Pilot jobs in Washington are:

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Cities in Washington with the most First Officer Pilot job openings:

First Officer Pilot jobs near you
Infographic showing various First Officer Pilot job openings in Washington as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 74% Full Time, 15% Part Time, 2% Temporary, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 80% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 19% Remote job distribution.

Airline Pilot - First Officer

Piedmont Airlines

Washington, DC

$117.75/hr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement

Posted 8 days ago

Piedmont Airlines rating

5.5

Company rating: 5.5 out of 10

Based on 110 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

24th of 26 rated airlines

Job description

First Officer – Piedmont Airlines

Location: Philadelphia, PA | Charlotte, NC | Harrisburg, PA

About Us

Piedmont Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group, operates a fleet of Embraer 145 regional jets and is proud to connect communities across the East Coast and beyond. Our crew bases in Philadelphia, PA; Charlotte, NC; and Harrisburg, PA provide pilots with stability, career growth, and industry-leading benefits.

Looking ahead, Piedmont will welcome the Embraer 175 to our fleet in 2028, offering pilots expanded opportunities to fly one of the most modern and comfortable regional aircraft in the skies.

Why Choose Piedmont?

  • Competitive Pay
    • First Officer hourly pay starting at $99.00
    • 75-hour minimum guarantee
    • Captain pay begins once you log 750 Piedmont flight hours and successfully bid to upgrade
    • Longevity match: Bring your service time from another 121 carrier
  • Training& Support
    • Hotel accommodations are provided during training at the American Airlines Training Center in Charlotte, NC
    • 100% pay protection for canceled trips and deadhead assignments
  • Career Growth
    • Captain upgrade eligibility after 2,500 total time hours and 1,000 Part 121 hours.
    • Earn Captain pay at 750 Piedmont hours with a successful upgrade bid
    • Flow-through program to American Airlines after 5 years of service, or continue earning top-of-scale pay if you remain at Piedmont
    • Future opportunities to transition to the Embraer 175 fleet in 2028

Compensation

First Officer Pay Scale: Hourly Pay

1 | $99.00
2 | $104.50
3 | $114.00
4+ | $117.75

  • 4-hour minimum day guarantee
  • 11 minimum days off per month
  • Long Call Reserve available

Captain Pay Upgrade: Once you log 750 flight hours at Piedmont and successfully bid for an upgrade, you will be compensated at the Captain's hourly rate.

Insurance& Retirement Benefits

  • Medical Insurance : Zero-dollar deductible plan; company covers 67% of employee premium (includes prescription and vision)
  • Dental Insurance : Preventive care at no cost
  • Life& Disability: 100% company-paid life insurance and AD&D coverage
  • Retirement : 401(k) with company contribution of 4% after one year of service

Travel Privileges

  • Unlimited travel on American Airlines for you, your spouse/partner, children, stepchildren, and parents
  • Guest travel options available
  • Zonal Employee Discount (ZED) agreements with other carriers for expanded global travel

Additional Perks

  • Commuter hotel rooms (6 per quarter for hub domiciles; 4 per month for non-hub domiciles)
  • Bid crew base assignments by seniority and availability
  • 100% trip cancellation and deadhead pay

Minimum Qualifications

  • Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) or Restricted ATP (R-ATP) certificate with multi-engine rating
  • 500 hours total time, including:
    • 50 hours multi-engine
    • 250 hours as Pilot in Command (PIC) or R-ATP minimums met
  • Current FAA First-Class Medical Certificate
  • FCC Radiotelephone Operator's Permit
  • Valid U.S. passport (or passport with U.S. work authorization)
  • High school diploma or GED

Preferred Qualifications

  • Type rating in a Part 25 aircraft
  • Current employment as a Part 121 pilot

Take Your Career Further
Joining Piedmont means more than flying airplanes—it's building a long-term career with American Airlines Group. Whether your goal is to fly to America or continue with Piedmont's growing operation—including flying the Embraer 175 in 2028—you'll find stability, competitive pay, and unmatched travel privileges.

Place of Work

On-site

Requisition ID

238754

Compensation

First Officer hourly pay starting at $99.00 75 hour minimum gurantee Captain pay begins once you log 750 Piedmont flight hours and successfully bid to upgrade Longevity match: Bring your service time from another 121 carrier

Job Type

Full Time

Job Benefits

Medical Insurance: Zero-dollar deductible plan; company covers 67% of employee premium (includes prescription and vision)

Dental Insurance: Preventive care at no cost

Life & Disability: 100% company-paid life insurance and AD&D coverage

Retirement: 401(k) with company contribution of 4% after one year of service

What Piedmont Airlines employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

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