Comprehensive Guide to The Fastest Growing & Best Careers in Aviation
We live in a progressively globalized world where air travel is more affordable than ever. As a result, millions of passengers a day take to the skies, and each has to pass through an airfield.
Such immense daily visitor turnover creates a spot of friction at airports. However, what keeps things moving is the personnel working there.
Aviation workers handle a massive mix of responsibilities and roles that are all crucial to the overall success of every flight – and you can join this fast-paced, highly dynamic industry with excellent income potential.
If this is your dream, then you’re in luck. This comprehensive read will take ten minutes of your time to inform you about the fastest-growing careers in this field. So let’s jump in!
Highest Paid Aviation Jobs: Career Expectations
Most consumers are not aware of the thousands of roles and hundreds of thousands of related services and engineering skill sets that go into smooth commercial flight. In the guide below we will list some of the best opportunities with solid prospects into the future. When it comes to selecting a career, most people are chiefly concerned with the actual end pay they should expect. Unfortunately, the difference between the Bureau of Labor Statistics and what is often seen in the market can at times be huge. In an effort to bridge the gap we have provided a set of data based on four different recruiting sites on the highest paid aviation careers as well as the respective BLS data below:
Pilot Careers
Unsurprisingly, millions of people globally dream of being pilots. The primary attractions to this career are the responsibility and prestige that comes with the role as well as the enticing potential financial rewards. While it’s not one of the fastest growing careers in aviation, you really can’t write a guide without mentioning it.
Commercial Airline Pilot
Growth Rate: 6% (As fast as average) Down from 13% 2020 BLS projection
Annual income estimate: $134,630
Commercial pilots handle unscheduled flights, including charter flights, aerial applications, and tours. They also handle non-flight tasks like scheduling flights, loading luggage, or arranging aircraft maintenance.
Private Pilot
Growth Rate: 6% (As fast as average) Down from 13% 2020 BLS projection
Annual income estimate: $202,180
These certified aviation specialists have a special certificate authorizing them to legally fly private aircraft. You must train on small aircraft operations, maneuvers, navigation, emergency procedures, and cross-country flight schedules.
Air Force & Military Pilot
Growth Rate: 6% from 2018-2028
Annual income estimate: $92,503
As a military pilot, you’ll fly specialized aircraft to transport equipment and troops for combat missions. This career allows you to contribute your skills to running and maintaining one of the world’s largest specialized airplane fleets.
Aircraft Maintenance Careers
Unknown to many, this is among the specializations with the highest income potential. Here, you have a broad selection of job positions, including:
Avionics Technician
Growth Rate: 6% (As fast as average)
Annual income estimate: $69,860
An Avionic Technician’s role includes the inspection, maintenance, and repairs of aircraft electronic systems such as radio, navigation, radar, or missile control. This position is vital, considering today’s airplanes primarily utilize electronic electric management systems.
Thus, you will need relevant engineering certification accredited by a regulatory body like the US’ FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) in the US or Europe’s EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency).
Aircraft Mechanic
Growth Rate: 6% (As fast as average)
Annual income estimate: $69,470
These professionals handle all aspects of an airplane except the electronic systems. Here, you’ll be tasked with assessing, repairing, and maintaining the aircraft, from the landing gear and engine to brake problems.
The FAA primarily recognizes the AMT (Aviation Maintenance Technicians) and Certified Aircraft & Powerplant certificates. In Europe, you need the B1 EASA Part 66 license.
Aircraft Inspector
Growth Rate: 6% (As fast as average)
Annual income estimate: $56,124
As an Aircraft Inspector, you’ll review aircraft systems, equipment, and practices to ensure they align with federal safety regulations. This includes examining maintenance records and logs to investigate hurdles and determine if all inspections have been performed.
Air Traffic Control Careers
You also have the option to delve into air traffic control. The fastest-growing opportunities with the highest potential income in this category include the following:
Air Traffic Controller
Growth Rate: 1%
Annual income estimate: $129,750
While not fast growing, this is another one of the most coveted jobs within the aviation industry. These professionals instruct pilots about weather situations, routes, and other relevant insights to guarantee flight safety. As an air traffic controller, your tasks will entail monitoring air traffic, providing take-off and landing instructions, evaluating weather forecasts, and establishing the best routes.
You must pass the FAA Air Traffic Skills Assessment (ATSA) and meet the three-year experience requirements.
Flight Service Specialist
Growth Rate: 6% (As fast as average)
Annual income estimate: $53,456
Your tasks as a flight service specialist are almost the same as those of the air traffic controller. However, you’ll focus on analyzing data and serving team members with relevant solutions and information. You’ll also respond to aircraft radio calls, observe and report weather conditions, and relay flight clearance radio requests.
Like the previous role, you need an FAA certificate to qualify for this role.
Aviation Management Careers
Aviation management is another constantly growing career choice with numerous opportunities. Most people are not aware of this career track, but roles in this category offer potentially lucrative incomes and opportunities to grow into even bigger, more adventurous roles.
The best aviation management jobs include:
Airport Manager
Growth Rate: 4% (As fast as average)
Annual income estimate: $44,030
The role of an Airport Manager entails overseeing airport operations and implementing practical safety procedures. These experts also conduct assessments for federal regulation compliance and aircraft maintenance. You may also evaluate costs and negotiate contracts to maximize resources.
Aviation Operations Specialist
Growth Rate: 6% (As fast as average)
Annual income estimate: $49,220
This interesting Aviation Management career entails aircraft mission preparation and dispatch. Generally, you’ll ensure efficient and safe operations of large aircraft fleets by coordinating flight schedules, maintaining flight logs, and sending emergency alerts to crash crews.
Aviation Safety Specialist
Growth Rate: 6% (As fast as average)
Annual income estimate: $72,541
This career encompasses multiple roles focused on creating, supervising, and modeling aviation safety management systems and practices. The requirements include passing a security background test and possessing a second-class FAA medical certificate.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Careers
Finally, you may opt to be an “off-board” aviation expert responsible for controlling, deciding, and servicing crewless aerial vehicles, commonly known as drones. The careers in this field include:
UAV Operator
Growth Rate: 9%
Annual income estimate: $44,245
This is the perfect career for those with initial aeronautical knowledge. You won’t be in charge of an actual airplane, but a crewless aerial vehicle.
The career is for anyone who is at least 16 years old and in the proper mental and physical state to fly a drone. You must also pass the FAA Unmanned Aircraft General – Small (UAG) examination.
UAV Software Engineer
Growth Rate: 25%
Annual income estimate: $109,020
This career focuses on developing and maintaining flight and ground control software that enables autonomous UAV navigation.
Experts in this field need the FAA Part 107 Certificate and must be experienced with flight test scheduling and execution. You must also be knowledgeable about the PX4 environment, which is essentially a potent open-source autopilot flight stack.
UAV Technician
Growth Rate: 6% (As fast as average)
Estimated annual income: $48,597
A UAV technician uses their aeronautic, electronic, robotics, and mechanical knowledge to provide drone maintenance and troubleshooting services. They focus on all drone sizes, including consumer, commercial, and combat UAVs.
Parting Words
The aviation sector is growing by the day and continues to offer limitless employment opportunities for qualified enthusiasts. But while this is an adventurous and potentially lucrative career path, success requires keeping up with the latest industry trends and constantly improving your knowledge base. So be sure to do everything necessary to stay competitive.
Reach out for more information.
References: