Expert: D. Norkus - 4/24/2007

Question
Is a bachelors degree needed to become sucessful and recieve good pay as an airline pilot?  

Answer
Ross,

Essentially, yes.

To be a competitive candidate for a pilot position, you must have at least a two year for the regional airlines or a 4 year for the major airlines. Pilot candidates without their degrees just are not as qualified as the rest of the applicant pool. In order to land the job (not just an interview) a pilot usually meets or exceeds what are known as "competitive minimums". Those are the average of what that airlines new hires qualifications are in education and flight experience. Simply meeting the airlines minimum requirements of applicants often doesn't cut it. In a career with so much competition, not having a 4 year slims your chances of being hired greatly, not having a 2 year will pretty much eliminate a pilot with most airlines. Having one shows the human resources department you are capable of study and can apply yourself.

Read this link about airline pilots and degrees-
http://www.jetcareers.com/content/view/22/44/

A pilots pay is based on his/her tenure with the company, his/her "seat" (captain or first officer) and the aircraft flown (the larger the higher the pay). A degree does not affect a pilots pay scale at all.

Dottie