How to hire a charter pilot

How to hire a charter pilot, step by step

Here's a step-by-step charter pilot hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a charter pilot job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new charter pilot
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

Post a charter pilot job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The charter pilot hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect charter pilot also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of charter pilots.

   Type of Charter Pilot	Description	Hourly rate
   Charter Pilot	Airline and commercial pilots fly and navigate airplanes, helicopters, and other aircraft. Airline pilots fly for airlines that transport people and cargo on a fixed schedule... Show more	$31-56
   Aviator	An aviator, also known as a pilot, operates aircraft for commercial or private use. Although their duties vary upon their company or industry of employment, it usually entails performing regular inspections before and after every flight, coordinating with staff, maintaining an active communication line with air traffic controller, determining routes and schedules, analyzing flight plans, and monitoring the weather conditions... Show more	$36-58
   Pilot Instructor	The key role of a Pilot Instructor is to teach students procedures and techniques about how to fly aircraft. They offer instruction for both on the ground and in the sky, prepare lesson plans, and assess and monitor students performance.	$28-63

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • On-Demand
   • Pilot-In-Command
   • FAA
   • PIC
   • Flight Operations

   Responsibilities:

   • Serve as a professional pilot managing a flight crew and ensuring safe transportation of VIP's internationally.
   • Develop and implement operational and administrative policies to align company policies and procedures with government (FAA) regulatory guidelines.
   • Conduct pilot proficiency and standardization evaluations in both A320 aircraft and simulator.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your charter pilot job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A charter pilot can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, charter pilots' average salary in minnesota is 42% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level charter pilots 45% less than senior-level charter pilots.
   • Certifications. A charter pilot with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a charter pilot's salary.

   Average charter pilot salary

   $87,597yearly

   $42.11 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level charter pilot salary

   $65,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 30, 2026

4. Writing a charter pilot job description

   A job description for a charter pilot role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a charter pilot job description:

   Charter pilot job description example

   Job DescriptionSalary:
   

   Join a full-service Midwest FBO providing high-level private aviation services for over 40 years. We have an opportunity for you to work with a team of dedicated professionals in a friendly environment.

   
   

   As a forward-thinking family-owned company located in the southern Wisconsin area. We are looking for qualified turbo-prop and jet captains for FAR Part 135 & 91 flight operations. who have an interest in flying multiple aircraft. Requirements of the position include:

   
   

   • Minimum 3,500 hours TT
   • Minimum 1500 hours multi-engine
   • >500-hour turbine hours
   • CE-500 or CE525 series aircraft, prefer type rating
   • Reside within approximately 50 miles of location
     
   • Authorized to live and work in the U.S. as citizen or permanent resident

   
   

   Wisconsin Aviation

   • A strong work culture with a family-owned company that appreciates your contributions
   • A stable company that has not laid off an employee for over 40 years
   • A company with solid values of ethics, collaboration, motivation and reliability
   • Full benefits offered, including 401k with employer match plus a bonus pay program
     

   
   

   If you take pride in taking great care of the customer while travelling to a variety of locations, apply here with your resume and cover letter.

   
   

   Full and Part Time Available

   Location: Madison, WI (MSN) and Watertown, WI (RYV)

   Our focus is on delivering the best possible customer service

   Wisconsin Aviation is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, disability that can be reasonably accommodated without undue hardship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find charter pilots for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any charter pilots they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level charter pilots with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your charter pilot job on Zippia to find and recruit charter pilot candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit charter pilots, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new charter pilot

   Once you've decided on a perfect charter pilot candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new charter pilot first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a charter pilot?