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The differences between aircraft pilots and air tour 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 aircraft pilot and an air tour pilot. Additionally, an air tour pilot has an average salary of $101,440, which is higher than the $94,207 average annual salary of an aircraft pilot.
The top three skills for an aircraft pilot include FAA, airspace and mission planning. The most important skills for an air tour pilot are PIC, customer service, and UAV.
| Aircraft Pilot | Air Tour Pilot | |
| Yearly salary | $94,207 | $101,440 |
| Hourly rate | $45.29 | $48.77 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 5,585 | 3,885 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An aircraft pilot handles the operations and maintenance of an aircraft. They are responsible for the safety of the aircraft, the passengers, and the crew. An aircraft pilot must have the required flight time experience, the necessary licenses, and a complete understanding of all airline safety protocols. This position also requires organizational skills, discipline, communication skills, and the ability to work well under pressure.
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.
Aircraft pilots and air tour pilots have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Aircraft Pilot | Air Tour Pilot | |
| Average salary | $94,207 | $101,440 |
| Salary range | Between $72,000 And $122,000 | Between $78,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | La Quinta, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | - |
| Best paying company | Michels | - |
| Best paying industry | Energy | - |
There are a few differences between an aircraft pilot and an air tour pilot in terms of educational background:
| Aircraft Pilot | Air Tour Pilot | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 77% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | SUNY Farmingdale |
Here are the differences between aircraft pilots' and air tour pilots' demographics:
| Aircraft Pilot | Air Tour Pilot | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% | Male, 97.1% Female, 2.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 81.5% 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% |