6 of the Most Popular Types of Professional Pilot Jobs in 2026

See what kind of roles similar to Professional Pilot jobs are hiring now

Top Types Of Professional Pilot Jobs

• No Experience Pilot

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

  No Experience Pilot is a typical job search query Most salaries for No Experience Pilot jobs pay between $100,000 (25th percentile) and $155,000 (75th percentile) annually. There are plenty of open positions nationwide for No Experience Pilot job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.

• Commercial Pilot

  Salary range: $38,500 - $54,500

  The duties of a commercial pilot involve flying an airplane or helicopter for commercial purposes. Your responsibilities in this career may involve operating aircraft flights that carry passengers or cargo. As a commercial pilot, you can work for a commercial airline, a charter service, or another type of company that offers commercial airplane services. You are responsible for ensuring the plane is safe, fueled, and supplied before takeoff. You must also submit a flight plan and ensure you have the proper clearance.

• Private Pilot

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

  As a private pilot, you can use a private pilot license (PPL) to operate a non-commercial aircraft and fly yourself or passengers around. This is essentially the recreational level of flying, and private pilots often support community events through volunteer activities like taking children on short flights to help them experience the joy of flying. Private pilots are not allowed to charge passengers, transport freight for money, or perform any other tasks that could qualify as a job. To get paid for flying an aircraft, you need at least a commercial pilot's license, and many trainees obtain a private pilot license while working toward professional licensure.

• Airline Pilot

  Salary range: $71,000 - $102,000

  An airline pilot captains a commercial aircraft that carries passengers and cargo from one location to another. As an airline pilot, your duties include conducting pre-flight instrument checks, taxiing aircraft to and from airport gates and around runways, handling takeoffs and landings, and flying aircraft safely between destinations. To captain a plane, you must be capable and confident in your aviation abilities in any weather conditions and at all times of day and night.

• Part Time Pilot

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

  If you are an experienced pilot, you can work part-time in various roles. One option is to work for a fractional flight airline that manages a fleet of civilian aircraft. In this role, your duties include providing aerial transportation to customers who each own shares of a plane. You can also pilot unmanned drones, provide crop dusting services to farms, work for state agencies taking aerial photos, or work as a certified flight instructor. As an instructor, your responsibilities include teaching others the skills needed to fly a single- or multi-engine plane, read instruments, and follow appropriate FAA regulations.

• Part 107 Pilot

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

  Part 107 Pilot is a typical job search query Most salaries for Part 107 Pilot jobs pay between $100,000 (25th percentile) and $155,000 (75th percentile) annually. There are lots of open positions nationwide for Part 107 Pilot job searches hiring now on ZipRecruiter.