Ranked list · 44 careers
44 Aviation Jobs, Ranked by Fit and Pay (2026)
Airline Pilot tops this list at $232,140 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), with +8.3% projected employment change over 2025–2035. Below are 44 careers that meet the criteria, each with its real median wage, outlook and entry requirement.
- Careers on this list
- 44From 1,731 in the bank
- Median pay on the list
- $85,915BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Projected to grow
- 42 of 44BLS EP, 2025–2035
- Openings a year
- 518,100Combined, BLS EP
Method
How we built this list
Careers that keep aircraft flying: pilots, air traffic controllers, dispatchers, aircraft mechanics and inspectors, cabin crew and airport operations. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
- Careers that keep aircraft flying: pilots, air traffic controllers, dispatchers, aircraft mechanics and inspectors, cabin crew and airport operations. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages.
- Occupations with no BLS wage or projection data are excluded rather than estimated.
- The list is regenerated from source data on every bank refresh. It is not hand-picked and no editorial ranking is applied.
The list
The top 44 aviation jobs
100% of these careers already have a full profile page; the rest publish with the next tranche and show the same bank data here in the meantime.
- 1
1. Airline Pilot
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $232,140median a year
- Growth
- +8.3%
- Openings / yr
- 11,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo.
- 2
2. Widebody Airline Captain
Specialty within airline pilot
- Median pay
- $420,000typical, MiGFlug Afterburner, from ALPA pilot contracts
- Growth
- +8.3%
- Openings / yr
- 11,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Commands twin-aisle jets such as the Boeing 777, 787, or Airbus A350 on long-haul and international routes for a major airline.
- 3
3. Air Traffic Controller
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $148,080median a year
- Growth
- +1.7%
- Openings / yr
- 2,100
- Education
- Associate's
Control air traffic on and within vicinity of airport, and movement of air traffic between altitude sectors and control centers, according to established procedures and policies.
- 4
4. Aerospace Engineer
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $134,960median a year
- Growth
- +8.3%
- Openings / yr
- 3,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Perform engineering duties in designing, constructing, and testing aircraft, missiles, and spacecraft.
- 5
5. Flight Test Engineer
Specialty within aerospace engineer
- Median pay
- $134,960median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +8.3%
- Openings / yr
- 3,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Plans aircraft test flights, flies along or monitors them in real time, and analyzes the data that proves an aircraft is safe and meets its requirements.
- 6
6. Commercial Pilot
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $123,220median a year
- Growth
- +5.2%
- Openings / yr
- 5,200
- Education
- Certificate
Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air carrier routes, or helicopters.
- 7
7. Corporate Pilot
Specialty within commercial pilot
- Median pay
- $123,220median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.2%
- Openings / yr
- 5,200
- Education
- Certificate
Flies business jets and turboprops for a company flight department, a wealthy owner, or a managed-aircraft operator, carrying executives and guests on demand.
- 8
8. eVTOL Pilot
Specialty within commercial pilot
- Median pay
- $123,220median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.2%
- Openings / yr
- 5,200
- Education
- Certificate
Flies electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, the battery-powered air taxis now being certified to carry passengers on short city hops.
- 9
9. Flight Inspection Pilot
Specialty within commercial pilot
- Median pay
- $123,220median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.2%
- Openings / yr
- 5,200
- Education
- Certificate
Flies specially equipped aircraft to check that airport landing systems, navigation beacons and instrument approach procedures work within tolerance.
- 10
10. Fractional Jet Pilot
Specialty within commercial pilot
- Median pay
- $288,000typical, NetJets, as reported by AVweb and Forbes
- Growth
- +5.2%
- Openings / yr
- 5,200
- Education
- Certificate
Flies business jets for a fractional ownership company, carrying the owners of aircraft shares to destinations on short notice.
- 11
11. Test Pilot
Specialty within commercial pilot
- Median pay
- $123,220median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.2%
- Openings / yr
- 5,200
- Education
- Bachelor's
Flies new, modified or newly built aircraft through planned test points to prove how they perform and handle before they are certified or delivered.
- 12
12. Aviation Meteorologist
Specialty within atmospheric and space scientist
- Median pay
- $99,070median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +2.6%
- Openings / yr
- 800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Forecasts thunderstorms, icing, turbulence, fog and winds for air traffic control centers, airlines and the military so flights can avoid hazardous weather.
- 13
13. Aircraft Accident Investigator
Specialty within aviation inspector
- Median pay
- $92,100median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +2.2%
- Openings / yr
- 2,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Examines aircraft crash sites, wreckage, recorders and records to determine why an accident happened and recommend changes that prevent the next one.
- 14
14. Aviation Inspector
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $92,100median a year
- Growth
- +2.2%
- Openings / yr
- 2,300
- Education
- High school
Inspect aircraft, maintenance procedures, air navigational aids, air traffic controls, and communications equipment to ensure conformance with Federal safety regulations.
- 15
15. Aviation Safety Manager
Specialty within aviation inspector
- Median pay
- $92,100median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +2.2%
- Openings / yr
- 2,300
- Education
- Bachelor's
Runs an airline's, charter operator's or airport's Safety Management System, investigating events, analyzing risk and leading safety changes.
- 16
16. Airline Network Planner
Specialty within operations research analyst
- Median pay
- $88,940median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +11.9%
- Openings / yr
- 7,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Decides which routes an airline flies, how often, at what times and with which aircraft, using demand models and profitability analysis.
- 17
17. Airline Revenue Management Analyst
Specialty within operations research analyst
- Median pay
- $88,940median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +11.9%
- Openings / yr
- 7,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Uses forecasting and optimization to decide how many seats an airline sells at each fare on each flight, balancing load against price.
- 18
18. Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologist and Technician
Architecture and Engineering
- Median pay
- $82,890median a year
- Growth
- +11.9%
- Openings / yr
- 1,100
- Education
- Associate's
Operate, install, adjust, and maintain integrated computer/communications systems, consoles, simulators, and other data acquisition, test, and measurement instruments and equipment, which are used to launch, track, po…
- 19
19. Avionics Technician
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $82,280median a year
- Growth
- +9.4%
- Openings / yr
- 1,700
- Education
- Certificate
Install, inspect, test, adjust, or repair avionics equipment, such as radar, radio, navigation, and missile control systems in aircraft or space vehicles.
- 20
20. Aircraft Mechanic
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair
- Median pay
- $79,870median a year
- Growth
- +5.4%
- Openings / yr
- 11,400
- Education
- Certificate
Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul aircraft engines and assemblies, such as hydraulic and pneumatic systems.
- 21
- Median pay
- $65,380median a year
- Growth
- −5.6%
- Openings / yr
- 3,100
- Education
- High school
Assemble, fit, fasten, and install parts of airplanes, space vehicles, or missiles, such as tails, wings, fuselage, bulkheads, stabilizers, landing gear, rigging and control equipment, or heating and ventilating systems.
- 22
22. Corporate Flight Attendant
Specialty within flight attendant
- Median pay
- $63,580median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +8.8%
- Openings / yr
- 18,500
- Education
- High school
Serves passengers on private and corporate jets, handling safety, catering, and personalized cabin service for executives and private owners.
- 23
23. Flight Attendant
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $63,580median a year
- Growth
- +8.8%
- Openings / yr
- 18,500
- Education
- High school
Monitor safety of the aircraft cabin.
- 24
24. Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $58,170median a year
- Growth
- +9.2%
- Openings / yr
- 900
- Education
- High school
Supervise and coordinate the activities of ground crew in the loading, unloading, securing, and staging of aircraft cargo or baggage.
- 25
25. Drone Delivery Operations Manager
Specialty within aircraft cargo handling supervisor
- Median pay
- $58,170median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +9.2%
- Openings / yr
- 900
- Education
- High school
Runs the daily operation of a drone delivery hub, managing the pilots, aircraft, loading teams and safety rules that get packages and medical supplies to customers by air.
- 26
26. Airfield Operations Specialist
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $56,850median a year
- Growth
- +7.8%
- Openings / yr
- 1,500
- Education
- High school
Ensure the safe takeoff and landing of commercial and military aircraft.
- 27
27. Airport Manager
Specialty within airfield operations specialist
- Median pay
- $56,850median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +7.8%
- Openings / yr
- 1,500
- Education
- Bachelor's
Runs a public-use airport, overseeing safety, operations, leases, budgets, federal grants and relations with airlines, tenants and the community.
- 28
28. Commercial Drone Pilot
Specialty within surveying and mapping technician
- Median pay
- $54,240median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.8%
- Openings / yr
- 6,900
- Education
- High school
Flies small unmanned aircraft for paid work such as surveying, mapping, construction progress, infrastructure inspection, film and agriculture.
- 29
29. Drone Light Show Pilot
Specialty within surveying and mapping technician
- Median pay
- $54,240median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.8%
- Openings / yr
- 6,900
- Education
- High school
Sets up and flies swarms of lighted drones that form moving images in the night sky for festivals, sports events and brand launches.
- 30
30. Aerospace Composite Technician
Specialty within fiberglass laminator and fabricator
- Median pay
- $46,880median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +4.6%
- Openings / yr
- 1,700
- Education
- High school
Builds and repairs aircraft and spacecraft parts made from carbon fiber and other composite materials.
- 31
31. Aircraft Service Attendant
Transportation and Material Moving
- Median pay
- $40,450median a year
- Growth
- +5.6%
- Openings / yr
- 4,000
- Education
- High school
Service aircraft with fuel.
- 32
32. Aerospace Medicine Physician
Specialty within preventive medicine physician
- Median pay
- $265,930median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.4%
- Openings / yr
- 9,400
- Education
- Doctorate
A physician who keeps pilots, aircrew, and astronauts healthy and fit to fly, and studies how flight and space affect the body.
- 33
33. Astronaut
Specialty within aerospace engineer
- Median pay
- $134,960median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +8.3%
- Openings / yr
- 3,800
- Education
- Master's
Trains for and flies on space missions, operating spacecraft, running experiments, performing spacewalks and supporting mission control on the ground.
- 34
34. Guidance, Navigation, and Control Engineer
Specialty within aerospace engineer
- Median pay
- $134,960median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +8.3%
- Openings / yr
- 3,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
Designs the algorithms and sensors that tell rockets, spacecraft, missiles and drones where they are, where to go and how to steer there.
- 35
35. Additive Manufacturing Engineer
Specialty within manufacturing engineer
- Median pay
- $102,440median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +12.4%
- Openings / yr
- 23,100
- Education
- Bachelor's
Develops industrial 3D printing processes that build metal and polymer parts layer by layer for aerospace, medical and energy uses.
- 36
36. Flight Nurse
Specialty within registered nurse
- Median pay
- $97,550median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +5.6%
- Openings / yr
- 180,800
- Education
- Bachelor's
A critical care registered nurse who treats and transports seriously ill or injured patients by helicopter or airplane.
- 37
37. Airport Wildlife Biologist
Specialty within wildlife biologist
- Median pay
- $76,780median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.6%
- Openings / yr
- 1,400
- Education
- Bachelor's
A wildlife biologist who reduces bird and wildlife strikes at airports by assessing hazards, managing habitat and training airport staff to control wildlife.
- 38
38. Federal Air Marshal
Specialty within police officer
- Median pay
- $76,210median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.5%
- Openings / yr
- 51,500
- Education
- High school
Flies undercover on commercial flights as an armed federal officer to detect and stop threats to passengers and aircraft.
- 39
39. Transportation Security Screener
Protective Service
- Median pay
- $66,770median a year
- Growth
- −4.2%
- Openings / yr
- 4,500
- Education
- High school
Conduct screening of passengers, baggage, or cargo to ensure compliance with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations.
- 40
40. Helitack Crew Member
Specialty within firefighter
- Median pay
- $59,280median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.7%
- Openings / yr
- 26,800
- Education
- High school
A wildland firefighter who uses helicopters to reach and attack new fires quickly, and who manages helicopter operations on the ground.
- 41
41. Smokejumper
Specialty within firefighter
- Median pay
- $59,280median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.7%
- Openings / yr
- 26,800
- Education
- High school
An experienced wildland firefighter who parachutes from aircraft into remote terrain to attack new fires before they grow.
- 42
42. Agricultural Drone Pilot
Specialty within pesticide handler, sprayer, and applicator, vegetation
- Median pay
- $46,340median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +3.9%
- Openings / yr
- 3,300
- Education
- High school
Flies drones that spray crops, spread seed and map fields, combining FAA drone certification with pesticide applicator licensing.
- 43
43. Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agent and Travel Clerk
Office and Administrative Support
- Median pay
- $44,390median a year
- Growth
- +2.5%
- Openings / yr
- 11,800
- Education
- High school
Make and confirm reservations for transportation or lodging, or sell transportation tickets.
- 44
44. Bird Abatement Falconer
Specialty within animal trainer
- Median pay
- $39,990median (parent occupation)
- Growth
- +4.2%
- Openings / yr
- 6,500
- Education
- High school
Uses trained hawks and falcons to scare nuisance birds away from airports, landfills, farms, vineyards and buildings, under a federal abatement permit.
Questions
Aviation Jobs: FAQ
What is the top career on the aviation jobs list?
Airline Pilot leads the list with a median wage of $232,140 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025) and projected employment change of +8.3% over 2025–2035. Typical entry-level education is bachelor's.
How was this list put together?
Careers that keep aircraft flying: pilots, air traffic controllers, dispatchers, aircraft mechanics and inspectors, cabin crew and airport operations. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Careers that keep aircraft flying: pilots, air traffic controllers, dispatchers, aircraft mechanics and inspectors, cabin crew and airport operations. Careers centred on this field come first, then the ones that touch it, each group ranked by national median pay from BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. Specialty careers, which BLS reports inside a broader occupation, show that occupation’s figures and are labelled on their pages. Every figure comes from BLS OEWS May 2025, BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and O*NET 31.0 Database.
How much do aviation jobs pay?
Across the 44 careers on this list the middle occupation pays $85,915 a year, from $39,990 at the bottom to $420,000 at the top (BLS OEWS May 2025 and the industry compensation sources cited on each career page). The median across all US occupations is $50,980.
How many of these careers can you enter without a degree?
25 of the 44 careers on this list have a typical entry requirement below an associate's degree: a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or no formal credential (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035).