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The differences between air tour pilots and air force pilots can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an air tour pilot and an air force pilot. Additionally, an air tour pilot has an average salary of $101,440, which is higher than the $98,196 average annual salary of an air force pilot.
The top three skills for an air tour pilot include PIC, customer service and UAV. The most important skills for an air force pilot are FAA, flight operations, and USAF.
| Air Tour Pilot | Air Force Pilot | |
| Yearly salary | $101,440 | $98,196 |
| Hourly rate | $48.77 | $47.21 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 3,885 | 3,867 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
Air Tour Pilots fly and navigate helicopters, planes, or any other aircraft providing rides to tourists. The pilot's transport passengers between local destinations, answer queries regarding the areas they pass by, or explain sightseeing opportunities. They usually work for certain companies to transport cargo on their fixed schedules. They conduct safety audits for operations specifications to ensure that the aircraft operates within the safety margins. Also, they take part in station leadership teams representing flight operations.
Primarily, an Air Force pilot flies aircraft such as bombers, transport planes, unmanned aerial vehicles, and tankers in the U.S. The pilots command their crews to complete training, combat, and other missions. They serve as military aviators who are trained to engage in air-to-ground and air-to-air combat. It is important that they master aviation skills, train, and lead flight crews, and perform flight operations. When not flying, they lead and manage the aircraft maintenance department crew.
Air tour pilots and air force pilots have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Air Tour Pilot | Air Force Pilot | |
| Average salary | $101,440 | $98,196 |
| Salary range | Between $78,000 And $131,000 | Between $74,000 And $130,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | - |
| Highest paying state | - | - |
| Best paying company | - | - |
| Best paying industry | - | - |
There are a few differences between an air tour pilot and an air force pilot in terms of educational background:
| Air Tour Pilot | Air Force Pilot | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 55% | Bachelor's Degree, 45% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Business |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | SUNY Farmingdale |
Here are the differences between air tour pilots' and air force pilots' demographics:
| Air Tour Pilot | Air Force Pilot | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 97.1% Female, 2.9% | Male, 80.0% Female, 20.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.8% Asian, 2.7% White, 82.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.8% Asian, 2.7% White, 82.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |