Career Paths From Commercial Pilots

Possible next moves, computed from skill overlap, O*NET occupational relatedness, preparation level, education, and pay — not a record of people who actually made these moves.

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersAdvancement95.9% skill match
Commercial Pilots and Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers is typically a step up, requiring more preparation and paying more. Job Zone is higher (4 vs 3). Median salary is about 88% higher.
Current median salary
$123,220
Target median salary
$232,140
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
4
Locomotive EngineersLateral Move96.2% skill match
Commercial Pilots and Locomotive Engineers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Locomotive Engineers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 34% lower.
Current median salary
$123,220
Target median salary
$81,410
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Power Distributors and DispatchersCareer Change91.7% skill match
Commercial Pilots and Power Distributors and Dispatchers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Power Distributors and Dispatchers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 13% lower.
Current median salary
$123,220
Target median salary
$106,730
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsCareer Change89.5% skill match
Commercial Pilots and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Median salary is about 23% lower.
Current median salary
$123,220
Target median salary
$95,480
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive FirersLateral Move95.8% skill match
Commercial Pilots and Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (96% match). Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 44% lower.
Current median salary
$123,220
Target median salary
$68,840
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Nuclear Power Reactor OperatorsCareer Change92.1% skill match
Commercial Pilots and Nuclear Power Reactor Operators share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Nuclear Power Reactor Operators is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set.
Current median salary
$123,220
Target median salary
$122,890
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
3
Bus Drivers, SchoolLateral Move89.5% skill match
Commercial Pilots and Bus Drivers, School share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Bus Drivers, School sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 61% lower.
Current median salary
$123,220
Target median salary
$47,920
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Bridge and Lock TendersLateral Move90.9% skill match
Commercial Pilots and Bridge and Lock Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Bridge and Lock Tenders sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 53% lower.
Current median salary
$123,220
Target median salary
$57,700
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and TendersCareer Change92.2% skill match
Commercial Pilots and Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (92% match). Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 61% lower.
Current median salary
$123,220
Target median salary
$48,040
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Tire BuildersCareer Change90.4% skill match
Commercial Pilots and Tire Builders share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Tire Builders is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 53% lower.
Current median salary
$123,220
Target median salary
$57,390
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Food BatchmakersCareer Change91.3% skill match
Commercial Pilots and Food Batchmakers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Food Batchmakers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 66% lower.
Current median salary
$123,220
Target median salary
$42,290
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Meter Readers, UtilitiesCareer Change89.4% skill match
Commercial Pilots and Meter Readers, Utilities share a similar Transferable Skills profile (89% match). Meter Readers, Utilities is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 61% lower.
Current median salary
$123,220
Target median salary
$48,150
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersCareer Change90% skill match
Commercial Pilots and Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (90% match). Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 61% lower.
Current median salary
$123,220
Target median salary
$48,570
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, HandLateral Move90.6% skill match
Commercial Pilots and Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand sits at a similar preparation level, so this would be more of a lateral move. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 67% lower.
Current median salary
$123,220
Target median salary
$40,240
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2
Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersCareer Change91.4% skill match
Commercial Pilots and Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers share a similar Transferable Skills profile (91% match). Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers is in a different occupational field, but draws on much of the same underlying skill set. Job Zone is lower (2 vs 3). Median salary is about 61% lower.
Current median salary
$123,220
Target median salary
$48,220
Current Job Zone
3
Target Job Zone
2

Computed from O*NET Transferable Skills, occupational relatedness and Job Zone data, plus BLS wage and projections data. Categories (Advancement / Lateral Move / Career Change) are derived algorithmically, not self-reported career histories.