Chief pilot vs aircraft pilot

The differences between chief pilots and aircraft pilots can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a chief pilot and an aircraft pilot. Additionally, an aircraft pilot has an average salary of $94,207, which is higher than the $86,920 average annual salary of a chief pilot.

The top three skills for a chief pilot include flight operations, pilot-in-command and PIC. The most important skills for an aircraft pilot are FAA, airspace, and mission planning.

Chief pilot vs aircraft pilot overview

	Chief Pilot	Aircraft Pilot
Yearly salary	$86,920	$94,207
Hourly rate	$41.79	$45.29
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	16,638	5,585
Job satisfaction	4	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 68%	Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

What does a chief pilot do?

A Chief Pilot assigns and oversees the duties of flight and ground personnel. They ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, including federal aviation regulations.

What does an aircraft pilot do?

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.

Chief pilot vs aircraft pilot salary

Chief pilots and aircraft pilots have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Chief Pilot	Aircraft Pilot
Average salary	$86,920	$94,207
Salary range	Between $59,000 And $126,000	Between $72,000 And $122,000
Highest paying City	San Francisco, CA	La Quinta, CA
Highest paying state	California	New Jersey
Best paying company	NetJets	Michels
Best paying industry	Manufacturing	Energy

Differences between chief pilot and aircraft pilot education

There are a few differences between a chief pilot and an aircraft pilot in terms of educational background:

	Chief Pilot	Aircraft Pilot
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 68%	Bachelor's Degree, 77%
Most common major	Aviation	Aviation
Most common college	SUNY Farmingdale	SUNY Farmingdale

Chief pilot vs aircraft pilot demographics

Here are the differences between chief pilots' and aircraft pilots' demographics:

	Chief Pilot	Aircraft Pilot
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4%	Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.0% Asian, 2.7% White, 81.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	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%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between chief pilot and aircraft pilot duties and responsibilities

Chief pilot example responsibilities.

Serve as a professional pilot managing a flight crew and ensuring safe transportation of VIP's internationally.
Maintain and operate aircraft to FAA standards for airworthiness and maintenance.
Take ownership of the entire storage infrastructure, from Compellent SAN to third-party technology products.
Perform the duties of, flight planning, aircraft utilization and pilot/co-pilot duties in the Caribbean.
File IFR flight plans with FSS, calculate weight/balance and fuel requirements prior to each flight segment.
Develop and implement operational and administrative policies to align company policies and procedures with government (FAA) regulatory guidelines.

Aircraft pilot example responsibilities.

Serve as a professional pilot managing a flight crew and ensuring safe transportation of VIP's internationally.
Conduct academic and flight training for USAF and international pilots in air-to-air combat tactics.
Plan, brief, execute and debrief air combat training missions.
Assist with all aspects of administration, logistics and equipment inventory, ensuring successful financial execution.
Coordinate with AATD and USMA to assist with visits to the UK.

Chief pilot vs aircraft pilot skills

Common chief pilot skills

Flight Operations, 15%
Pilot-In-Command, 9%
PIC, 8%
Operations Specifications, 6%
Training Programs, 5%
ATP, 4%

Common aircraft pilot skills

FAA, 38%
Airspace, 11%
Mission Planning, 8%
UAS, 8%
Army Aviation, 6%
Combat, 6%

Chief Pilot vs. similar jobs

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Chief Pilot
Chief Pilot vs Aircraft Pilot

Updated January 8, 2025

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