Pilot job market / Charter
The charter pilot job market
This category covers on-demand passenger charter, air ambulance, and corporate and fractional flying, in aircraft from piston twins and turboprops to business jets. Trips follow the customers or patients, so schedules are less predictable than airline or scheduled cargo flying.
Captain seats in these operations carry high experience minimums, so many openings are for first officers or for pilots who already hold an ATP. The listings below show what current openings ask for.
What employers ask for
Minimum flight hours
Total flight time required. 20 of 24 listings state one.
- Under 2500
- 250–4991
- 500–9993
- 1,000–1,4993
- 1,500 or more13
- Not stated4
Certificates required
Share of listings that name each one.
- Instrument75%
- Commercial67%
- Multi-engine54%
- First-class medical42%
- ATP33%
- Seaplane13%
By career stage
Listings grouped by the minimum hours they state, with the certificates asked for most often at each stage.
Entry level1 listing
Under 500 hours
Commercial, Instrument, Seaplane
Building time6 listings
500–1,499 hours
Commercial, Instrument, First-class medical
ATP level13 listings
1,500 hours or more
Multi-engine, Instrument, First-class medical
Pay in current listings
4 of 24 charterlistings state pay as a figure or range. Each counts at the midpoint of its range, and the middle half leaves out the highest and lowest quarter so one unusual listing doesn't skew it.
Annual salary
$60k–$110k/yr
Middle half · median $70k/yr · 3 listings
Aircraft in current listings
- Cessna Grand Caravan EX 2
- Helicopter 2
- Learjet 35 2
- Pilatus PC-12 2
- 560XL Series 1
- Airplane 1
- Cessna 206 1
- Cessna 207 1
Where the jobs are
Current charter listings by state. Each state page covers its openings in every category, its aviation employers and its flying clubs.
The most recent listings
- CharterFull-time
Charter Pilot
- State
- Tennessee
- Minimum hours
- 3,500+ hours
- Pay
- Pay not listed
- ATP
- Multi-engine
- Instrument
- First-class medical
Employer, town and apply link for members
- CharterFull-time
Charter Pilot
- State
- Illinois
- Minimum hours
- 3,000+ hours
- Pay
- Pay not listed
- Commercial
- Instrument
- Multi-engine
- ATP
- First-class medical
Employer, town and apply link for members
- Charter
Charter Pilot
- State
- Pennsylvania
- Minimum hours
- Hours not stated
- Pay
- Pay not listed
- Commercial
- Instrument
- Multi-engine
Employer, town and apply link for members
- CharterFull-time
Part 135 Charter Pilot
- State
- Georgia
- Minimum hours
- 1,200+ hours
- Pay
- Pay not listed
- Commercial
- Instrument
- First-class medical
Employer, town and apply link for members
- CharterLow-timeSeasonal
Seasonal Line Pilot
- State
- Maine
- Minimum hours
- 500+ hours
- Pay
- Pay not listed
- Commercial
- Instrument
Employer, town and apply link for members
- CharterLow-timeFull-time
Charter Pilot
- State
- Alaska
- Minimum hours
- 500+ hours
- Pay
- Pay not listed
- Commercial
- Instrument
Employer, town and apply link for members
Before you apply
- Under Part 135, which covers most charter and air-ambulance flying, a captain needs at least 1,200 hours to fly under instrument rules (500 for VFR-only operations).
- In Part 135 passenger service, captains of turbojets or of airplanes with 10 or more passenger seats need an unrestricted airline transport pilot certificate, which takes 1,500 hours.
- Part 135 sets no flight-time minimum for a second in command: a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating is the legal floor, and employers set their own minimums above it.
- Larger aircraft require a type rating, which some operators provide in training and others expect you to hold already. Training agreements that require repayment if you leave early are common; read the terms before accepting an offer.
Other kinds of flying
Frequently asked questions
How many charter pilot jobs are open right now?+
24 listings are active on USA Pilot Jobs, 14 of them added in the last 30 days. The count is refreshed daily as listings are added and expire.
How many flight hours do current charter pilot listings ask for?+
Among the 20 listings that state a minimum total time, the median is 2,000 hours. 1 ask for fewer than 500 hours and 13 for 1,500 or more.
What do current charter pilot listings pay?+
Across the 3 listings that state annual salary, the middle half runs from about $60k to $110k/yr, with a median of $70k/yr. Each listing counts at the midpoint of its stated range.
Which states have the most charter pilot openings?+
Current listings are spread across 12 states. The most are in Florida, Colorado and Alaska.
Why doesn't this page show the employer or an apply link?+
Job listings are for members. On the board, every listing shows the employer, the location, the full requirements and a link to apply on the employer's own site. Membership costs $9.99 a month or $99 a year.
Every charter pilot listing, in full
Members see the employer, location and full requirements for each opening, with the ones their hours and ratings already meet marked.
Browse pilot jobsNo contracts · You apply on the employer's own site