Shigoto Zukan
日本語

How to become パイロットeducation, training, experience, licenses and the steps to enter

Japan Aviation Confidence ★★★★☆

Average annual pay
¥16.32M
≈ $103,768
Top pay (est.)
¥33.94M
Top 10% ¥28.07M
Pay in 5 years
¥17.83Mest.
2031
Pay in 10 years
¥19.47Mest.
¥16.75M–¥22.61M
Outlook score
47/100
★★☆☆☆ Average
AI replacement risk
51%
Moderate
Labor demand
Low
Openings-to-applicants 0.75x

How to become パイロット

The typical path in Japan is shown by the education, training and experience of current workers above and in the Japanese guidance below. A detailed English guide for this occupation is being prepared.

Guidance from job tag (Japanese)
旅客機を運航するには定期運送用操縦士の資格が必要となる。通常、自家用操縦士の資格取得後、事業用操縦士、定期運送用操縦士の順に資格を取得していく。旅客機のパイロットとして働くには、国土交通大臣による航空従事者技能証明を受けなければならない。
　資格取得のためには、航空会社に入社して養成訓練を受ける方法と航空大学校に入学する方法がある。航空会社では筆記試験や面接、パイロットとしての適性検査を経て採用される。航空大学校の入学試験には学力検査、身体検査、心理検査、口述試験、操縦適性検査等がある。この他、一部の大学でも航空操縦学科が設けられている。一定期間海外に留学し、操縦免許を取得し、日本の操縦免許に書き換えるコースを受ける場合もある。
　航空会社に入社後しばらくは地上勤務などに就き、航空会社社員としての経験を積む。所定の訓練を受けて、20代後半から副操縦士として飛行経験を積み、30代後半から40代前半にかけて機長に昇格するのが一般的である。
　パイロットはどんな事態にも落ち着いて対応できるよう、情緒の安定と冷静な判断力が必要となる。管制機関との交信は英語で行われるため、英語力も必要になる。

Skills, education and requirements for パイロット

Key skills

Operation and Control
5.1
Operations Monitoring
4.9
Active Listening
4.9
Reading Comprehension
4.5
Speaking
4.3
Complex Problem Solving
4.2
Troubleshooting
4.1
Foreign Language (reading)
4.0

Skill levels from the MHLW job tag worker survey.

Key knowledge areas

Transportation
3.4
Telecommunications
2.9
Geography
2.8
Education and Training
2.7
Physics
2.6
Foreign Language
2.6
Law and Government
2.5
Public Safety and Security
2.5

What the work involves

Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeDeveloping and Building TeamsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsTraining and Teaching Others

Important abilities

Problem SensitivityTime SharingSpatial OrientationSelective AttentionDeductive ReasoningOral Expression

Licenses and certifications (Japan)

Related qualifications listed on job tag (names in Japanese). Some are mandatory, others recommended.

Education of workers

Training before entry

Related work experience

Difficulty of entry: ★★★★★ Hard to enter (from education, training, experience, licenses)

Career path and how to earn more as パイロット

Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by experience is shown in the Pay section.

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2025), Population Census and Hello Work employment statistics as published on the MHLW job tag site (retrieved Nov 1, 2026); Occupational Information Database (JILPT). Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.