Aviation is a growing industry with a daily increase in air travel and passenger movement across the globe. Air travel is recognised as the safest and fastest mode of travel compared to other means of transportation.
The airline industry is growing day by day and is expected to rise consistently over the next decade. As per the report published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), worldwide air passengers are expected to grow to about 10 billion by the year 2040. Likewise, the number of departures is projected to climb to some 90 million in 2040.
With the growth in the aviation industry, we can expect more opportunities for aviation-related jobs in the coming days. There are significant job opportunities at the moment also. Various research agencies have published their report regarding the worldwide shortage of aviation professionals.
Having said that, you must be curious to know what are the job opportunities in the airline industry. Well, we will find out what jobs are there in the aviation industry with the job prospect, salary, career growth, reputation, availability, responsibility and much more.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
What jobs are there in the aviation industry? (Top 10 Best Aviation Careers)
Airline Pilot
Airline pilot is one of the reputed jobs in the aviation industry and is widely demanded around the world. Pilots are responsible for the safe operation of aircraft starting from takeoff to landing. The key responsibilities include formulating a flight plan, conducting pre-flight checks, coordinating with flight dispatchers and engineers and flying the plane.
An airline pilot must ensure the aircraft is fully ready for a safe departure. He or she is highly responsible for transporting people and cargo to different destinations.
The Engine is the Heart of an Airplane but the Pilot is its Soul.
If you are planning to become an airline pilot, you need to go through a Private Pilot License (PPL) and Commercial Pilot License (CPL) training which may cost over US$50,000. After completion of your pilot training, you can become either a commercial pilot or a private pilot. Your career as an airline pilot starts with a trainee pilot or First-Officer position.
Talking about the job prospects, an airline pilot is a highly demanded position and it is expected a global shortage of 34,000 pilots by the year 2025. With that, the job openings will be huge.
As per the salary is concerned, it depends upon the seniority and experience level. The salary ranges from US$70,000 to US$208,000 per year.
To know more about pilot jobs, you can refer to the following listed articles.
How to become a United Airlines Pilot? How to become an American Airlines Pilot? How to become a Southwest Airlines Pilot? How to become an Alaska Airlines Pilot? How to become a Delta Air Lines Pilot? How to become a Hawaiian Airlines Pilot? How to become an Allegiant Air Pilot? How to become an Avelo Airlines Pilot? How to become a Breeze Airways Pilot? How to become a Frontier Airlines Pilot? How to become a JetBlue Pilot? How to become a Spirit Airlines Pilot? How to become a Sun Country Airlines Pilot? How to become a Qatar Airways Pilot? How to become a Singapore Airlines Pilot? How to become an Emirates Pilot? How to become a Cathay Pacific Pilot? How to become a Qantas Airways Pilot? How to become an Air France Pilot? How to become a British Airways Pilot? How to become a Turkish Airlines Pilot?
Aircraft Engineer
Engineering is another popular job in the airline industry that covers positions like Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME), Aircraft Technician, Aeronautical Engineer, Aerospace Engineer and Flight Engineer.
The role of aircraft engineers depends upon their specialization. For instance, Aircraft Maintenance Engineers are responsible for executing aircraft inspections, troubleshooting technical glitches, initiating repairs, conducting scheduled maintenance and making upgrades. Likewise, Aeronautical Engineers focus on the design and development of aircraft by studying aerodynamic performance and other theories.
God Created Aircraft Engineers so that PIlots can have heroes too.
The demand for aircraft engineers is projected to rise consistently over the coming years. It is expected about 4,000 openings for aircraft engineers every year.
To become an aircraft engineer, you need to study engineering programs offered by aviation training institutes. If you wish to become an Aircraft technician or mechanic, you can go for the AME Licensing course.
The salary of aircraft engineers depends on their experience and seniority level. It can range from US$45,000 to more than US$110,000 per year.
Explore How to become an Aircraft Engineer.
Air Traffic Controller (ATC)
Air Traffic Controller (ATC) is an awesome job in the aviation industry that specializes in monitoring and handling the movement of aircraft on the ground and in the air for safe operation. The major role of ATC officers is to direct aircraft, communicate with pilots, monitor changes in weather conditions, alert planes to possible danger ahead and ensure overall safety throughout the flight journey.
ATC officers operate from control towers established at the airports and communicate with all responsible people including pilots, engineers and ground staff for safe flight operation.
ATC is an Art through Control !!
To become a proficient ATC officer, you need to go through ATC Technical Training offered by various training institutes. After completing the course, you are required to work as an assistant for some years to gain real-time experience.
Talking about the salary, the yearly pay for ATC officers ranges from US$60,000 to US$230,000 depending upon the experience and seniority level.
Flight Operation Officer/Flight Dispatcher
Do you know about the Flight Dispatcher job in the airline industry? If not, it is one of the important positions mandatory for airline operations. Flight Dispatcher is also known as Flight Operations Officer whose duty is to assist the pilot in planning flight paths, evaluating aircraft performance and loading, analyzing en-route weather, checking airport conditions and ensuring safe air travel.
Flight Dispatchers monitor weather conditions, create flight plans, provide pre-flight counselling to pilots, inspect aircraft for scheduled maintenance, check aircraft fuel capacity, monitor air traffic control communications, analyze aircraft load & trim settings and various other SOPs for ensuring optimum flight safety.
The Captain on the Ground
Those interested in becoming a Flight Dispatcher or a Flight Operations Officer must undertake a minimum of 3 months of Flight Dispatcher training offered by aviation institutes. The course structure is based on the supervision of FAA, EASA or the aviation regulatory body of the country where the training is provided.
Every airline company require Flight Dispatchers or Operations Officer mandatorily. That’s why there is a high demand for such positions. As per the salary is concerned, it ranges from US$44,000 to US$102,000 per year depending on the experience and seniority level.
How to become a Flight Dispatcher?
Flight Attendant/Cabin Crew/Air Hostess
Cabin Crew is a famous job in the airline industry and is also known as a Flight attendant or Air Hostess. The key responsibility of a cabin crew is to welcome passengers on board and direct them to their respective seats. Informing safety procedures, checking seat belts & galleys, making flight announcements and serving passengers are the responsibilities of a flight attendant.
Cabin Crews are also known as the faces of the airline company they are working for. They are required to provide in-flight services to ensure a comfortable and sound flying experience for valuable passengers.
For most people, the sky is the limit. For Flight Attendants, the sky is home.
Cabin Crew training is not that necessary for becoming an airline flight attendant however, you must have strong communication skills, interpersonal skills, physical ability to lift things, swim, a good personality, a good level of personal hygiene, teamworking skills and standard appearance.
The salary of a flight attendant or a cabin crew ranges from US$60,000 per year to over US$100,000 depending on the seniority level and experience gained.
Want to pursue your career as a flight attendant? Go through the following resources.
How to become a Southwest Airlines Flight Attendant? How to become an American Airlines Flight Attendant? How to become a United Airlines Flight Attendant? How to become an Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant? How to become a Delta Air Lines Flight Attendant? How to become a Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendant? How to become an Allegiant Air Flight Attendant? How to become an Avelo Airlines Flight Attendant? How to become a Breeze Airways Flight Attendant? How to become an Eastern Airlines Flight Attendant? How to become a Frontier Airlines Flight Attendant? How to become a JetBlue Flight Attendant? How to become a Spirit Airlines Flight Attendant? How to become a Sun Country Airlines Flight Attendant? How to become a SkyWest Flight Attendant? How to become a Silver Airways Flight Attendant? How to become an Air France Flight Attendant? How to become a Thai Airways Flight Attendant? How to become an Etihad Airways Cabin Crew? How to become Turkish Airlines Cabin Crew? How to become KLM Cabin Crew? How to become a Lufthansa Cabin Crew? How to become a British Airways Cabin Crew? How to become a Cathay Pacific Cabin Crew? How to become a Qantas Airways Cabin Crew? How to become a Japan Airlines Cabin Crew? How to become an Emirates Cabin Crew? How to become a Singapore Airlines Cabin Crew? How to become a Qatar Airways Cabin Crew?
Airport Ground Operations
Ground operations are all about handling aircraft movement at airports across the aerodrome except on active runways. There are various jobs related to airport ground operations that are vital for ensuring safety prior to aircraft departure.
An Integral part of Airline Operations
IATA says ground handling is an integral part of airline operations as it enhances safety and operational efficiency.
Some major Ground Operation positions include:
- Aircraft Marshaller
- Airport Baggage Handler
- Ground Transportation Agent
- Tower Agent
- Aircraft Pushback Driver
- Airline Ramp Turnaround Coordinator
- Ramp Agent
- Airport Equipment Operator
- Cargo Agent
- Aircraft Cleaner
Airline Operations & Management
Airline Operations and management is a managerial-level job available in the airline industry. It includes various departments like Finance, IT, Customer Service, Marketing, Project Management, Station Management and so on.
Airline Management job can be taken as an office-level position that requires management skills, communication skills, team-working ability, problem-solving techniques, coordination with other staff and much more.
Some major positions in this sector are:
- Airline Supervisor
- Project Manager
- Airline Station Manager
- Crew Scheduling
- Safety Management Systems (SMS) Investigator
- Regional Manager
- Inflight Supervisor
- IT Professional
- Social Media Manager
- Director of Financial Planning and Analysis
Airport Manager
Airport Manager is an important position that is mandatory for every airport to operate efficiently. The major role of an airport manager is to monitor day to day management of the airport’s operations including staff, airline operations, airfield operations, business and so on.
Another vital responsibility of an airport manager is to check whether the airport regulations and standard operating procedures are strictly followed or not. The safe and efficient operation of an airport depends upon the leadership ability of an airport manager.
As an airport manager aspirant, you need to have a quality educational degree in the field of aviation management and must have a strong knowledge of safety guidelines, personnel management, accounting, airport operations and so on.
The yearly salary of an airport manager ranges from US$70,000 to over US$100,000.
Customer Service Assistant/Agent (CSA)
Customer Service Assistant (CSA) is an integral part of the airline industry that is highly responsible for offering excellent service to valued customers. It includes services like reservations, ticketing, passenger check-in, baggage handling, assisting passengers with their queries, helping differently-abled passengers and resolving issues.
To become a CSA, you need to have a high school diploma and possess strong communication skills along with the ability to work under pressure. Besides, you also required IT skills to handle computerised systems.
Customer Service is not just a department, it is the entire company.
The salary of an airline Customer Service Assistant or an Agent ranges from US$25,000 per year to US$60,000 per year depending on experience, seniority level, location and other criteria.
Airport Security Officer
The airport is a delicate area where numerous activities related to travel happen daily. With that, there are higher chances for fraudulent and harmful activities that threaten flight safety. That’s why airport security is the most important service.
As an airport security officer, your major role is to provide security to the passengers and control access to aircraft, airport restricted areas, scan vehicles, screen baggage, verify the identity of passengers, monitor surveillance equipment, operate regular security checks, and handle emergencies and so on.
Airport Security exists to guard us against harmful activities.
The salary of an airport security officer ranges from US$30,000 per year to US$155,500 per year depending on the experience, location, seniority level and other criteria.
Conclusion
We are at the end of this informative article where we discussed What jobs are there in the aviation industry including job prospects, requirements, availability, salary and much more.
If you are an aviation enthusiast, you can go through all the available jobs in the airline industry and pick a suitable one for you.
Airline pilot is the ultimate choice of aviation lovers however, they opt out of this due to financial inefficiency. Aircraft engineering is also an expensive course that requires more time. So, if you aren’t financially strong, you can go for other aviation jobs that require less investment.
Flight Dispatcher, Flight Attendant/Cabin Crew, Ground Operations and Airline Management are the best options if you don’t have airline pilot and aircraft engineering on your wish list.
Some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the requirements for jobs in the airline industry?
There are various jobs in the aviation industry like airline pilot, aircraft engineer, flight operations officer, cabin crew, ground operations and so on. The requirements are different for every job available in the airline industry.
What is the best job in the Aviation industry?
Every job is best in the airline industry but if you are looking for higher pay and reputation, you can go for an airline pilot or an aircraft engineer.
What is the highest-paid Aviation job?
Flight Instructor is the highest-paid aviation job as the average salary of this position in the United States is $107,679.
How do I get a job in the airline industry?
First of all, you must select among various job opportunities available in the airline industry and then go for training. For instance, if you want to become an Air Traffic Controller, you need to undertake ATC training and then apply for the post.
