How to hire a line pilot

How to hire a line pilot, step by step

Here's a step-by-step line 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 line pilot job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new line pilot
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The line 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a line pilot to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a line pilot that fits the bill.

   This list presents line pilot salaries for various positions.

   Type of Line Pilot	Description	Hourly rate
   Line 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	$32-65
   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:

   • EMS
   • Helicopter
   • Federal Aviation
   • NVG
   • PIC
   • FAA
   • Flight Planning
   • IFR
   • Charter Operations
   • Aerial Photography
   • ATP
   • GPS
   • LiDAR
   • Routine Maintenance

   Responsibilities:

   • Serve as a professional pilot managing a flight crew and ensuring safe transportation of VIP's internationally.
   • Charter pilot, piston twins, turbine twins, AC690B, BE90 PIC.
   • Ensure compliance with FAA regulations and safe operation of AS350 aircraft.
   • Update avionics electronic devices with the latest software upgrades and reprogram electronic GPS devices.
   • Plan and prepare for various training missions, learned syllabus requirements and weather information.
   • Provide primary jet training (aerial and grind) to USAF and international students.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your line pilot job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A line pilot salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, line pilots' average salary in minnesota is 48% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level line pilots earn 51% less than senior-level line pilots.
   • Certifications. A line pilot with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a line pilot's salary.

   Average line pilot salary

   $96,403yearly

   $46.35 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level line pilot salary

   $67,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 14, 2025

4. Writing a line pilot job description

   A line pilot job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a line pilot job description:

   Line pilot job description example

   We invite you to join a team of highly skilled emergency medical experts, pilots and mechanics!
   Our mission of providing care to the world at a moment's notice is at the heart of everything we do. We are caregivers, first and foremost, and we will be there when you need us.
   
   PILOT INCENTIVES
   
   Depending on current specific base needs, new hire line pilots could be eligible to receive:
   

   • Starting base salary $82,000 to $90,200, depending on experience
   • 2% to 30% geographic modifier for assigned base, depending on location
   • $15,000 sign-on bonus and $40,000 retention bonus, all locations
   • 7/7 or 14/14 schedule, depending on location
   • 24-hour base housing, provided at all locations

   
   
   JOB SUMMARY
   
   Ensures all operations involving Company aircraft are in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations, Air Evac EMS Operations Manual, and all state and municipal regulations.
   
   

   • Operates the aircraft in a safe and efficient manner, with emphasis on compliance with the Rotorcraft Flight Manual
   • Monitors forecast changes and current weather situations
   • Conducts preflight of the aircraft prior to starting shift and/or accepting transports or flights. Preflight will be conducted utilizing the appropriate rotorcraft flight manual. Discrepancies noted during the pre-flight will be noted in the engineering log with a notification to maintenance of the discrepancy and what corrective action is being taken
   • Reports to his/her shift rested and prepared for duty and stays current of weather and forecast changes

   
   
   QUALIFICATIONS
   
   Experience:
   
   2000 hours total flight time
   1500 hours helicopter time
   1000 hours helicopter pilot in command
   500 hours turbine
   100 hours night unaided, or 50 hours unaided with 100 hours aided
   Previous HAA experience or equivalent - preferred
   
   Education and Credentials:
   
   Rotorcraft-Helicopter Commercial Certificate
   Rotorcraft-Helicopter Instrument Rating
   
   High school diploma or equivalent
   
   Other:
   
   230-pound weight limit dressed in flight suit and boots
   
   Global Medical Response teams deliver compassionate, quality medical care, primarily in the areas of emergency and patient relocation services around the world. We provide end-to-end medical transportation as well as fire services, integrated healthcare solutions and disaster response.
   
   EEO Statement:
   Global Medical Response and its family of companies are an Equal Opportunity Employer, which includes supporting veterans and providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with a disability.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right line pilot for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with line pilots they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit line pilots who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your line pilot job on Zippia to find and recruit line 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 line 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 line pilot

   Once you've selected the best line pilot candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing 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 employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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 line pilot?