Do airline captains need a degree?

The answer is no. Getting an aviation degree or going to an aviation college is not a requirement to become an airline pilot. In fact, major airlines accept any and all bachelor fields and aren't the least bit concerned with what you studied in college.



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The estimated total pay for a Captain at Delta Air Lines is $89,786 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated base pay is $66,818 per year.

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While they can sometimes have shared responsibilities, a co-pilot and a pilot typically earn different salaries. A captain usually has the potential to earn a higher salary than a co-pilot, though the specific salary amounts for each position can vary greatly depending on the airline.

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A four-year college degree is highly preferred but not a requirement for first officer candidates.

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No, you do not need a degree to work as a pilot, although having a degree will help in advancing your career at most stages and especially in making the final move to a major airline.

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Yes, airplane pilots can wear glasses. (And many do.) If you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, you can still become a commercial, private, or military pilot. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the military have certain minimum standards for prospective pilots.

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The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median U.S. pilot salary at $211,790 in 2022. This means 50% of pilots earn more than this, and 50% earn less. However, there are pilots working for major airlines making more than $700,000 per year.

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In the U.S., there are no FAA age limits for pilots except for commercial airline pilots employed by airlines certificated under 14 CFR Part 121. These airlines cannot employ pilots after they reach the age of 65. However, these pilots may stay on with a Part 121 carrier in some other role, such as flight engineer.

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The Atlanta-based carrier becomes the last major U.S. airline to remove the college degree requirement. It joins other major airlines like Southwest, United and American Airlines that don't require their pilots to hold a degree.

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Becoming an airline pilot is a very competitive and challenging career option. To become one, you must spend many years of pilot training aviation. This means that you should begin thinking about this career early in life.

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To fly as a commercial airline pilot, you will need 1500 hours of experience, which can be earned in two years. ATP's accelerated commercial pilot training programs provide a structured timeline and shorten the time it takes to gain experience and meet qualifications.

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Commercial airline pilots typically operate between one and four flights a day, depending on the type of aircraft they operate and how far each flight is from home. However, cargo pilots may fly more than that, as they often have multiple stops throughout their routes.

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