* Minimum of a high school education or equivalent.

* Bachelor’s degree in a related field is often preferred, but not required.

* Many airlines also require that applicants have a minimum of 1,500 flight hours.

Flight Training Requirements

* Private Pilot License: This is the first step in becoming an airline pilot. It requires at least 40 flight hours, including 10 hours of solo flying.

* Instrument Rating: This rating qualifies you to fly in bad weather conditions. It requires at least an additional 40 hours of flight time, including 10 hours of instrument training.

* Commercial Pilot License: This license allows you to fly for hire. It requires at least an additional 250 hours of flight time, including 50 hours of cross-country flying.

* Airline Transport Pilot License (ATP): This is the highest level of pilot certification. It requires an additional 1,500 hours of flight time, including 100 hours of cross-country flying.

* Type ratings are specific to each aircraft. You will need to obtain a type rating for each aircraft you fly for an airline.

Other Requirements

* Applicants must be at least 23 years old to become an airline pilot.

* Applicants must have good vision, hearing, and color perception.

* Applicants must be able to swim.

* Applicants must be fluent in English.

* Applicants must have a valid medical certificate.

Career Outlook

The airline pilot career is a highly competitive one, but the job outlook is expected to remain excellent in the coming years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth for airline pilots is projected to be 7% from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Salary

The average annual salary for airline pilots in the United States was $151,290 in 2020. However, salaries can vary significantly based on experience, the airline, and the location.