Flight Operations

First Officer — Global Hiring Overview

First Officers operate the right seat on commercial and cargo aircraft, supporting the Captain across all phases of flight on narrow-body and wide-body operations.

Median Salary
$92.9k
$66.9k – $130k
Demand Score
98/100
Very High
Monthly Openings
12.2K
tracked globally
YoY Growth
+15%
rolling 12 months

Market Outlook

The market for first officers across the global aviation market is experiencing a high-volume surge. YoY vacancy growth is hovering at +15%, primarily catalyzed by fleet expansion, new airline launches, and rising pilot demand as legacy crews retire.

Salary Trend

Experienced first officers in the global aviation market are commanding base packages ranging from $66.9k up to $130k annually. Standard benefits packages include health insurance, flight concessions, training bonds, and flight hour allowances for crews, or performance bonuses for corporate staff.

Career Path

Professionals on this track often transition from FO into roles like Pilot or Captain. Long-term career progression feeds directly into command upgrades, training captain, and chief pilot tracks across airlines and business aviation paths.

Key Responsibilities

  • Operate as PF/PM under Captain command
  • Execute SOPs across normal and non-normal procedures
  • Manage radios, navigation, and flight planning
  • Support Captain on decision-making

Qualifications

  • CPL with multi-engine and instrument rating
  • Class 1 medical
  • ATPL theory; 500+ hours minimum
  • Type rating on operator fleet
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Frequently Asked Questions

The median salary for a First Officer in the global aviation market is around $92.0k, typically ranging from $66.2k to $129k based on experience, type ratings, and the type of aviation employer.