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Boston Career Explorer

Transportation and Material Moving

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, national, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots.

Also called: Airbus Captain, Airline Captain, Airline Pilot, Captain, Check Airman, Co-Pilot

Median pay in Greater Boston
Not published
Jobs in Greater Boston
2,120
Massachusetts 2024–2034
Not published
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Bachelor's degree
plus Moderate-term on-the-job training; Less than 5 years of related work experience

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
Not publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot publishedNot published

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.
  • Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
  • Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.
  • Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.
  • Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists.
  • Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Moderate exposure35 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 41
  • Language-model AIOE 25
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 39

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

AI exposure is moderate, and AI tools may help with tasks like following checklists, tracking instruments, and flight planning. Observed AI use in this job is little or none so far. The parts that rely on people include working with the flight crew, especially at takeoff and landing, and responding to in-flight emergencies.

Likely to change

  • Pre-flight checklists and inspection records
  • Flight planning and instrument monitoring

Still relies on people

  • Responding to in-flight emergencies
  • Teamwork with the flight crew

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians

    Your habit of inspecting aircraft for defects carries over. This job pays a median of $93,280 in Boston and is projected to grow 6.5%.

    Pay difference
    Not published
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +6.5%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

  • Aircraft Service Attendants

    Your knowledge of aircraft and airport communication carries over. It needs only short on-the-job training, though the median pay is lower at $44,190.

    Pay difference
    Not published
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +5.3%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

1 program near Boston

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

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