How to hire a first officer

How to hire a first officer, step by step

Here's a step-by-step first officer hiring guide:

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

What does a first officer do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the first officer you need to hire. Certain first officer roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   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 first officer 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of first officers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of First Officer	Description	Hourly rate
   First Officer	Police officers protect lives and property. Detectives and criminal investigators, who are sometimes called agents or special agents, gather facts and collect evidence of possible crimes.	$26-57
   Ranger	A ranger is responsible for protecting and conserving natural resources and environmental conditions. Rangers coordinate with environmental institutions and landowners to identify land conservation strategies to prevent destructible threats of wildfires and calamities... Show more	$11-21
   Police Cadet	Police cadets require multiple police department-relevant skills in traffic control, police reports, public safety, and special events. Those who choose this career will be responsible for participating in training programs that will introduce them to the fundamentals of law enforcement and prepare them for becoming police officers, supporting police operations like traffic control, working on criminal investigation, and performing administrative duties at the station.	$11-22

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • FAA
   • CFR
   • ATP
   • PIC
   • Pilot-In-Command
   • Flight Operations
   • Federal Aviation
   • Passenger Service
   • Aircraft Maintenance
   • Caribbean
   • Airline Operations
   • Aircraft Systems
   • Crew Resource Management
   • Cargo Operations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Execute and monitor strategic merchandising plans to achieve revenue objectives and reduce expenditures while ensuring payroll remains within budget.
   • Experience with EFIS, FMS and RNAV.
   • Base on the Embraer [] fleet
   • Operate a Lear 35 and 60
   • Contact drone companies in the UK for possible collaboration.
   • Discover new construction trends in the UK via showrooms.

   More first officer duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your first officer job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A first officer salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a first officer in Wyoming may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level first officer usually earns less than a senior-level first officer. Additionally, a first officer with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average first officer salary

   $82,510yearly

   $39.67 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level first officer salary

   $56,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average first officer salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$101,946	$49
   2	Illinois	$101,068	$49
   3	Washington	$98,507	$47
   4	California	$92,638	$45
   5	Ohio	$92,637	$45
   6	Pennsylvania	$91,277	$44
   7	Alaska	$89,596	$43
   8	New Jersey	$87,805	$42
   9	Texas	$86,171	$41
   10	Massachusetts	$83,121	$40
   11	Hawaii	$83,039	$40
   12	Maryland	$81,897	$39
   13	Utah	$79,795	$38
   14	Colorado	$79,146	$38
   15	Iowa	$79,009	$38
   16	Nevada	$77,890	$37
   17	Florida	$77,207	$37
   18	Alabama	$73,323	$35
   19	North Carolina	$71,660	$34
   20	Missouri	$70,575	$34

   Average first officer salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Lynden	$84,486	$40.62
   2	Hawthorne Global Aviation Services	$83,546	$40.17
   3	Remote	$82,211	$39.52
   4	Dynamic Aviation	$81,170	$39.02
   5	PPG	$81,006	$38.95
   6	Red Wing Aeroplane	$80,760	$38.83
   7	Trans-System	$80,393	$38.65
   8	Jet Aviation	$80,377	$38.64	1
   9	General Dynamics	$79,283	$38.12	50
   10	UPS	$78,315	$37.65	1
   11	Solairus Aviation	$78,048	$37.52
   12	Allegiant International	$77,941	$37.47
   13	CommutAir	$77,686	$37.35	1
   14	Eastern Airlines, Inc	$77,412	$37.22	2
   15	ExpressJet Airlines	$77,271	$37.15
   16	Frontier Airlines	$77,192	$37.11
   17	Piedmont Airlines	$77,168	$37.10	53
   18	NetJets	$77,149	$37.09
   19	PSA Airlines	$76,971	$37.01
   20	Air Wisconsin Airlines	$76,918	$36.98

4. Writing a first officer job description

   A job description for a first officer 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 first officer job description:

   First officer job description example

   Now accepting applications for AUSTRALIAN pilots who meet all hiring and E-3 Visa requirements.

   NEW: INDUSTRY LEADING PAY + BONUSES!

   $52.03 $92.01

   First Year First Officer Hourly Rate First Year Captain Hourly Rate

   + 30% Block or Actual Hours Flown Pay Override (AFW-Based Cargo Ops)

   OR

   +10% Block or Actual Hours Flown Pay Override (FLL, SJU, TPA Passenger Ops)

   $17,000 Sign-on Bonus for All New Hire Pilots

   $4,000 Annual High Season Bonus for All Pilots

   NEW $10,000 Captain Upgrade Bonus

   NEW $30,000 Longevity Bonus after 2 years as Captain

   NEW $40,000 Longevity Bonus after 5 years as Captain

   NEW $4,000 Quarterly Captain Retention Bonus (AFW-Based Cargo Ops)

   NEW $3,000 Quarterly Captain Retention Bonus (FLL, SJU, TPA Passenger Ops)

   NEW Quarterly Cash Out up to 5 Personal/Sick Days at 125%

   NEW $300 Monthly Living Allowance for All AFW Based Pilots

   Minimal Overnights. Multiple Career Paths. Maximum Earning Opportunity.

   Cargo Operations based at Alliance Fort Worth Airport (AFW).

   Passenger Operations based at Fort Lauderdale (FLL), San Juan (SJU), and Tampa (TPA)

   Per diem $2.15 per hour

   Minimum Daily Rate: 4 credit hours

   Minimum Monthly Guarantee: 75 credit hours

   Deadhead Pay: 100%

   401(k) with Company Match

   Holiday Pay: 150% multiplier

   Minimum Requirements:

   • Must be an Australian national
   • Valid Unexpired Australian Passport
   • Must be 23 years of age
   • Must possess necessary academic or other qualifying credentials (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience)
   • FAA Commercial Pilot Certificate - Multi-engine Land, Instrument Ratings
   • ATP or R-ATP Minimum Flight Times
   • Current FAA First Class Medical Certificate
   • FCC Radio Telephone Operators Permit

   Preferred Qualifications:

   • ATP Multi-engine Land
   • 2000 Hours Total Time
   • Part 121 Experience
   • EFIS/FMS Experience
   • Instructor/Check Airman Experience

   New rates and incentives are effective as of June 1, 2022 based on the Letter of Agreement (LOA) signed between Silver Airways and the International Brotherhood of teamsters on May 27, 2022. While some of the incentives in the LOA are subject to further negotiations, the pay scale is considered ratified until the expiration of the current collective bargaining agreement which expires October 1, 2025.

   Silver Airways is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

   All aspects of employment are governed based on merit, competence, and qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right first officer for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your first officer job on Zippia to find and recruit first officer 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 first officers, 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 first officer

   Once you have selected a candidate for the first officer position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new first officer 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.)

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