Do pilots need a license in Illinois?

No statewide license is required for pilots in Illinois. Most employers expect industry certifications such as FAA knowledge test and practical test (checkride).

How to Become a Pilot in Illinois (2026)

Q: How long does pilot training take in Illinois?

Most people become a Pilot in Illinois through an FAA medical, flight training, solo, knowledge test, and checkride. Certificates are federal, not a state license.

Q: How much do pilots earn in Illinois?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), pilots in Illinois earned a median annual wage of approximately $293,490 (using the related "Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers" BLS category, since pilot wages are not tracked separately). Employment concentration in Illinois is about 1.59 times the national average for this occupation.

Q: What is the job outlook for pilots in Illinois?

Illinois currently employs approximately 6,460 workers in the related "Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers" BLS category, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 3.9% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated September 2, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois commercial pilots earn a median annual wage of $126,100 according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 1,170 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 2.3% above the national median of $123,220 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $126,100
25th percentile: $64,370 per year
75th percentile: $200,440 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $376,830 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $51,890 per year
Workers employed in Illinois: 1,170
Versus national median: 2.3% above the U.S. median of $123,220
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.63 - this occupation is less concentrated in Illinois than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed September 2, 2026.

Illinois employs about 6,460 pilots earning a median $293,490 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025; proxy category “Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers”). Training as a Pilot here means completing an FAA medical, flight training, solo, knowledge test, and checkride. Certificates are federal, not a state license.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Illinois employs approximately 6,460 workers in the related “Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers” category (SOC 53-2011), with a median annual wage of $293,490 ¹. The state’s concentration of jobs in this category is 1.59x the national average, indicating strong regional demand. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 3.9% from 2024 to 2034, with about 11,700 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Pilot in Illinois, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

A note on salary data: The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not track pilot salaries as a separate category. The wage figures on this page are based on the closest matching BLS classification: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (SOC 53-2011). Actual pilot earnings may vary.

At a Glance

Training paths: FAA Part 61 or Part 141 flight school (find programs)
Typical timeline: an FAA medical, flight training, solo, knowledge test, and checkride. Certificates are federal, not a state license
Exam: FAA knowledge test and practical test (checkride)
Median wage (Illinois): $293,490 per year (based on related “Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers” category) ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Pilot in Illinois

How to become a Pilot in Illinois? Complete an FAA medical, flight training, solo, knowledge test, and checkride. Certificates are federal, not a state license. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish an FAA medical, flight training, solo, knowledge test, and checkride. Certificates are federal, not a state license. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Illinois? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect FAA knowledge test and practical test (checkride). See the licensing section below.

What do pilots earn in Illinois? The BLS does not track pilot wages separately. Based on the related “Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers” category, the median annual wage in Illinois is $293,490, with entry-level wages around $166,620 and experienced workers earning $421,610 or more ¹.

How to Become a Pilot in Illinois

Get an FAA medical. See an Aviation Medical Examiner for the medical class your goal requires.
Train under Part 61 or Part 141. Complete ground and dual instruction at a flight school. This is not a registered apprenticeship and not a state licensing board path.
Solo, then pass the knowledge test. Meet FAA solo requirements, then pass the FAA knowledge test.
Pass the checkride and add ratings. Pass the practical test. Private is the entry certificate; instrument, commercial, and ATP are later ratings. Confirm current hour minimums with the FAA and your school, not a state board.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Pilot License Requirements in Illinois

Pilots hold FAA certificates. Illinois does not issue a pilot license. The path is medical, flight training, knowledge test, and checkride.

Typical path

Obtain an FAA medical.
Complete Part 61 or Part 141 training.
Pass the knowledge test and checkride.
Add ratings as your career requires.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Pilot Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

Commercial Pilots Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), commercial pilots wages in Illinois vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin	840	$157,420	$171,200	$51,890	$376,830
St. Louis	380	$91,540	$119,820	$50,790	$222,780
Champaign-Urbana	30	$67,770	$75,760	$36,580	$91,830
Peoria	30	$101,820	$149,360	$94,340	$242,410

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for pilots in Illinois? Illinois employs approximately 6,460 workers in the related “Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers” category ¹. Nationally, employment in this category is projected to grow 3.9% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Illinois? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Illinois.

How much do pilots earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for pilots in Illinois is $293,490 (based on the related “Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers” category), which is $66,890 above the national median of $226,600 according to BLS data ¹.

In Illinois

Illinois Trade Schools 2026: Programs, Costs, Licensing

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Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)