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What is a corporate pilot and how to become one
The corporate pilot job title encompasses a wide range of job types and opportunities. At times, corporate pilots fly small single-engine piston airplanes on short stints up to converted airliners crossing the globe. Regardless of the type of operation or workplace, there is likely a fair amount of variability to their day compared to working at an airline or flying cargo. Corporate pilots can expect variety in their duties, destinations, and scheduling.
Corporate pilots' duties include directing the flight crew, meeting with passengers on business travel, filing the itinerary and flight plans at the airport, and ensuring that all systems are functioning before taking off.
Corporate pilot pay varies significantly both in the amount of compensation and in the way of their payment. Pilots are typically paid a salary in corporate flight departments. Corporate pilots won't have monthly minimum guarantees for hours worked. However, when staying the night away from home, they can expect payment of expenses and bonus facilities.
Avg. Salary $87,661
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 6%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.26%
Asian 2.73%
Black or African American 2.63%
Hispanic or Latino 6.80%
Unknown 5.49%
White 82.09%
Genderfemale 5.98%
male 94.02%
Age - 44American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 44Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Corporate pilot career paths
Key steps to become a corporate pilot
Explore corporate pilot education requirements
Start to develop specific corporate pilot skills
Skills Percentages FAA 25.72% Pilot-In-Command 18.76% PIC 18.27% CFR 6.60% ATP 4.88% Complete relevant corporate pilot training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New corporate pilots learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a corporate pilot based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real corporate pilot resumes.Research corporate pilot duties and 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.
Prepare your corporate pilot resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your corporate pilot resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a corporate pilot resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable corporate pilot resume templates
Build a professional corporate pilot resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your corporate pilot resume.
Apply for corporate pilot jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a corporate pilot job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first corporate pilot job
Are you a corporate pilot?
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Average corporate pilot salary
The average corporate pilot salary in the United States is $87,661 per year or $42 per hour. Corporate pilot salaries range between $63,000 and $120,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do corporate pilots rate their job?
Corporate pilot reviews
challenges career opportunities learning opportunities
Workload 24/7 availability
nothing at all. The way i look at it its kind of nonsense. best da.
Every day at work was different. Each flight was different and flying an airplane well is challenging. When an airline pilot has completed their flight assignment they go home and do not think about the job until the next time they go to work. The FAA regulations require rest periods and days off for pilots. A normal flight schedule offers 8- 20 days off per month. A pilot can choose to fly trips that are 1- 12 days long. Most airlines have a seniority system. This means that the airplane and crew position are determined by the date you were hired. Generally speaking, Senior pilots are Captains that fly the airplane with highest pay rate. Senior pilots also have the best flight schedule. Starting pay at the major airlines in 2019 is about $85,000 year. Senior pilots flying wide-body airplanes can earn up to $600,000 year flying an international schedule
Jet-lag. Fatigue is a fact of life for an airline pilot. Domestic flying often includes trips that depart at 11:00 PM and arrive early in the morning. International trips fly all over the world at all hours of the day. Pilots learn to deal with jet-lag and fatigue, but it remains a fact of life for most aviators
Updated January 8, 2025
