19 of the Best Types of Pilot Jobs in 2026

Discover some great types of Pilot jobs that are hiring now.

High Paying Pilot Jobs

• Entry Level Pilot

  Salary range: $100,000 - $155,000

  To become an entry-level pilot, you need to have several qualifications, including a high school diploma or GED certificate, a pilot’s license, and FAA certification. Although not a strict requirement, many airlines, especially larger national ones, prefer candidates with a bachelor’s degree. Good courses to study include engineering and aviation. If your job requires you to fly internationally, you need to have a valid passport as well. Pilots who learned their skills in the military can transfer directly to civil aviation without meeting all of the same requirements.

• Summer Pilot

  Salary range: $100,000 - $155,000

  Summer jobs are an integral part of American culture for students in their teens and beyond, but not all summer jobs are created equal. The difference between a great summer and an awful one can be the right job. According to Forbes, some good summer jobs for teens are camp counselor, golf caddy, nanny, food service, retail sales, and, of course, internships.

• On Call Pilot

  Salary range: $100,000 - $155,000

  When most people think of on-call jobs, medical professionals and first responders typically come to mind. For first responders, like firefighters and EMTs, on-call usually means you are sleeping at the station, ready to wake up and respond to a call quickly. Medical workers, on the other hand, may work a more traditional on-call schedule. While some nurses and doctors may sleep at the hospital, especially during their residency, you may also have an on-call shift where you can leave and go home, potentially never actually coming back. If you want a career as a nurse or doctor but do not like this unpredictability, rest assured that the chance of having on-call shifts decreases as you gain seniority and advanced qualifications. Repair workers like electricians may also work on-call. You may occasionally find on-call jobs in retail or customer service sectors, but this is not as common.

• Independent Contractor Pilot

  Salary range: $100,000 - $155,000

  You find Independent Contractors in many different industries, so the path to becoming one varies significantly. In general, you must have several years of experience in the field and have a track record of success in your industry. You also must pursue the kind of work that can be done on a consultant or contract basis. You may possess particular skills or expertise that a company needs temporarily, such as an IT Consultant, or provide a service that is required intermittently, like a Freelance Writer. Many Independent Contractors transition to becoming self-employed to have a more flexible schedule and the ability to choose their clients.

• Co Op Pilot

  Salary range: $100,000 - $155,000

  The qualifications you need for a Co-Op job depend on the application requirements at your school and the organization where you want to work. You must be an officially enrolled student at your college or university, and GPA and credit hour requirements are typical. Some companies prefer Co-Op students whose major aligns with the industry. You must have strong communication skills and a willingness to learn and practice a variety of new tasks and job duties. Your responsibilities are to apply your learning to your Co-Op work experience and be a punctual and motivated employee.

• Pilot Manager

  Salary range: $100,000 - $155,000

  Managers supervise a team of people; they establish goals, assign tasks, and measure progress. The specific responsibilities of someone in a management position will vary based on the company and industry they work in, but their primary responsibilities remain largely the same. Managers monitor the accomplishments of their staff, focusing on the overall goals of the department. They work with Human Resources to determine and address staffing needs, coordinate and delegate responsibilities, check employee performance, and provide additional training and direction when necessary.

• Per Diem Pilot

  Salary range: $100,000 - $155,000

  Per diem jobs are short-term positions which are paid by the day. The most common per diem job opportunities are in the medical field, including positions in nursing, hospice, pediatrics, and midwifery. Phlebotomists, operating (OR) assistants, and pharmacists may also work on a per diem basis. Per diem employees are often contracted to work as admissions coordinators, recreation coordinators, and assistants.

• Temporary Pilot

  Salary range: $100,000 - $155,000

  A Temporary job is an employment arrangement in which both parties, the employee and employer, agree in advance that the position will be filled for a set period. Temporary jobs often are based on employers’ seasonal or specific project needs. Occasionally, Temporary employees will be offered ongoing, full-time positions if their performance is excellent and a position is available. However, you should not assume this will be the case.

• Full Time Pilot

  Salary range: $100,000 - $155,000

  Full-time employment hours are generally determined by the employer. There is no single universal definition; however, various laws and policies govern different types of eligibility and statuses. For example, the Fair Labor Standards Act does not define full-time employment but does require overtime pay after 40 hours of work in a workweek for non-exempt employees. The Affordable Care Act, in determining Applicable Large Employers, defines full-time employees as those working an average of at least 30 hours per week, or 130 hours a month. The H-1B Visa Program defines full-time as 40 hours per week, normally, and in no event would less than 35 hours per week be considered to be full-time employment. In practice, full-time employment is typically between 32 and 40 hours per week.

• From Home Pilot

  Salary range: $100,000 - $155,000

  From Home Pilot is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for From Home Pilot jobs pay between $100,000 (25th percentile) and $155,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for From Home Pilot job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Executive Pilot

  Salary range: $58,000 - $120,500

  The different types of executive jobs include upper- and senior-level management as well as the C-suite—the highest levels of senior management. The C-suite executives have the word “chief” at the beginning of their titles: Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operating Officer (COO), and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) are the most common. Companies with a heavy reliance on information technology may also have a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). Other executive jobs include vice president and director of various departments.

• Director Pilot

  Salary range: $90,000 - $112,000

  A director is a low-level executive in a company or organization that is responsible for a particular project, region, or division. A director of a company is employed to manage the day-to-day business activities of a group or division within an organization. There are different types of directors, but they are all tasked with leading others and meeting the goals of the organization. Directors plan, execute and manage to reach a goal. For example, the sales director would oversee the sales for a particular product or area. An HR director would be tasked with screening applicants and hiring the right candidates, making sure to comply with all employment laws and settling any personnel issues.

• Senior Pilot

  Salary range: $41,500 - $103,000

  Senior Pilot is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Senior Pilot jobs pay between $41,500 (25th percentile) and $103,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Senior Pilot job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Coordinator Pilot

  Salary range: $40,500 - $69,500

  Coordinators plan and schedule events, programs, or projects. In this position, you can work in a variety of industries, so your duties and the necessary qualifications vary by field. There are project coordinators who work in the construction, manufacturing, and development industries, program coordinators, who typically work in education, community outreach, or non-profit organizations, and numerous other positions that require significant coordination experience. For those who work in labor industries, coordination might include developing timetables and budgets for the ordering and delivery of materials or services, while at a school, an instructional coordinator might prepare an afterschool program curriculum.

• Junior Pilot

  Salary range: $36,000 - $57,500

  Junior Pilot is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Junior Pilot jobs pay between $36,000 (25th percentile) and $57,500 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Junior Pilot job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Trainee Pilot

  Salary range: $33,000 - $51,000

  The requirements to get a trainee job vary by industry. In some, such as architecture or accounting, you must graduate from an accredited college program before you can begin work. Other industries, such as retail, manufacturing, or telemarketing, may require only a high school diploma or a GED certificate to begin a training program. No matter what profession you are interested in, you should have strong verbal and written communication and an interest in continuing the career.

• Apprentice Pilot

  Salary range: $36,000 - $50,000

  Apprentice Pilot is a more unusual job search query but still may give you interesting job results. Most salaries for Apprentice Pilot jobs pay between $36,000 (25th percentile) and $50,000 (75th percentile) annually. Currently, there are not many open positions nationwide for Apprentice Pilot job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter. You can take a look at what is available and find similar job searches in this list.

• Pilot Internship

  Salary range: $30,000 - $40,000

  The primary qualifications for getting a pilot internship are a high school diploma or equivalent. You typically need to be at least 18-years-old, pass a health test, and have the intention of pursuing a pilot's license or be enrolled in an aviation degree program. Employers prefer applicants who have strong communication skills, leadership skills, analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to learn quickly. You must also be willing to learn all the aspects of being a pilot beyond flying a plane. Fulfilling the responsibilities and duties of a pilot internship requires the ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and the ability to read pilot charts.

• Freelance Pilot

  Salary range: $39,000 - $39,000

  Freelancers are self-employed. As a freelancer, you provide work to clients and invoice them for it. The type of clients you have depends on what kind of services you offer. Your clients can be individuals or companies. A full-time freelancer often has assignments from multiple clients at once. Some common services that people provide as freelancers are: writing, editing, graphic design, web design, marketing, programming, accounting, and bookkeeping. Freelancing is ideal for those who prefer to be their own boss and are willing to market themselves to meet their income goals.