If you have ever marvelled at the wonder of aircraft or looked at the skies and thought that would make a great office, then you may have also wondered what the highest-paid aviation jobs are. Choosing a career is never an easy task, but if you have an interest in travel or engineering, then you may find aviation jobs that would suit you perfectly. It helps to understand how much you will get paid and what qualifications you will need in order to work in that particular field. So, here’s a look at some of the highest-paid aviation jobs in the industry, presented by aircharterserviceusa.com.
Airline Pilots
The highest-paid professionals in this field are the actual airline pilots. These pilots fly massive aircraft full of passengers daily, and it is a very skilled job. Just being a pilot isn’t necessarily highly paid, smaller charter flights may not pay so much. But if you work for one of the national airlines as a pilot you can expect a salary of over $100,000 a year. Of course, there are several hoops you will need to jump through before you can expect to apply for such a role. This includes racking up successful airtime, as well as undertaking the correct courses required which can set you back approximately $50,000. Once you have the right qualifications and apply for a job, you can still expect to undergo testing to ensure that you can demonstrate your competence. Meeting industry tasks and giving the confidence that you can remain very calm despite a high-pressure environment and respond accordingly if there is an emergency. This testing takes the form of written exams, and before you can even put yourself forward, you need over 1500 hours of flight time under your belt.
Aerospace Engineer
If you would rather keep one foot firmly on the ground and aren’t interested in the travel aspect involved with piloting a plane, then you may want to consider a career in aerospace engineering. With a salary of $91,000 a year again, these roles are only available once you have completed your training. You would begin with a bachelor’s degree and then move onto a master’s degree in aerospace sciences, aeronautical engineering, or avionics. Some of the most experienced and highly paid engineers achieve salaries of over $130,000 a year. The purpose of your role is to work as part of a highly skilled team designing and testing new technologies to ensure that aircraft are functioning at the highest possible specifications. You will need to have a natural ability for mathematics and be a good communicator. The software is computer-assisted design (CAD), so you also have to be familiar with this. If you are involved in project management, you will also need skills in budgeting in order to stick to what your client has requested.
Air Traffic Controller
You may not think that being an air traffic controller is an exceptionally skilled role, but actually, it is a fiercely competitive industry and candidates require many different skills, as the weight of the skies are literally on their shoulders. You can expect an annual salary in the region of $84,000, and although there is no prescribed training course, this is an entry-level degree job, and the selection process and training that follows can take up to three years. You need to have close attention to detail, be incredibly concentrated, and understand the importance of the role. It is all down to you to ensure that the Airways remains safe, and this involves tracking aircraft, talking to pilots, watching ground movements, and handling take-offs and landings. The role consists of the use of radio communication equipment and technical radars for which you will receive training.
Air Marshal
Considered the police of the skies, air marshals will be onboard flights and provide added security. Passengers are often unaware of the presence of an air marshal, and they work in plain clothes to ensure that no terrorism or other criminal offences take place on flights. To get into the role, you must have a degree and be physically fit. There will be a very comprehensive background screening process, and you will then move on to a 16-week training programme that has been described as rigorous. Sometimes air marshals will be working within the confines of an airport, and they must be always on alert and observe behaviours to prevent any criminal or terrorist activity taking place. This is a high-pressure job for which you can expect to receive a salary of approximately $70,000 a year.
Papito, CC BY-SA 4.0
Flight Instructor
Training the next generation of pilots is no easy task. Flight instructors have an annual salary in the region of $67,000 a year and must be experienced pilots themselves. There is a requirement that you have racked up a certain amount of airtime, and obviously must be a fully qualified pilot before you can begin to teach these skills to other people. Your job will be based on the ground teaching theory and in the Sky teaching practical elements of flying. Flight simulators have changed the way people can learn to fly and made it slightly safer, but you are still there to ensure that everything you know about flying is passed on to the next generation. You will be preparing your students for the exams required to pass that course is. This means that you must also be a competent teacher, and able to impart knowledge to others.
