Modeled career paths · Aviation

Where does a First Officer go next?

What employers are asking a First Officer for, what they pay, and where people go next. From live postings and Startline’s modeled career map: what the ads say, never estimated.

Management path
Airline Captain+27% typical comp change · ~3.0y typical
64% of modeled moves out of First Officer go here
leadership branch100% of modeled exits move upward from there
Check Airman+71% typical comp change · ~3.0y typical
21% of modeled moves out of First Officer go here
leadership branch84% of modeled exits move upward from there
Port Operations Manager-1% typical comp change · ~7.0y typical
reachable via Chief Mate. 5% joint modeled share
leadership branch90% of modeled exits move upward from there
Higher-growth opportunity
Director of Flight Operations+144% typical comp change · ~6.0y typical
reachable via Airline Captain. 16% joint modeled share
executive stepno modeled onward moves above the evidence floor
Career pivot
Chief Mate-23% typical comp change · ~4.0y typical
7% of modeled moves out of First Officer go here
pivot86% of modeled exits move upward from there
Owner-Operator-52% typical comp change · ~4.0y typical
7% of modeled moves out of First Officer go here
pivot100% of modeled exits move upward from there

What this page cannot know is which of these fit you. That is what the free list is for.