Flight commander vs airline pilot

The differences between flight commanders and airline 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 flight commander and an airline pilot. Additionally, an airline pilot has an average salary of $85,534, which is higher than the $70,672 average annual salary of a flight commander.

The top three skills for a flight commander include combat, logistics support and USAF. The most important skills for an airline pilot are aircraft systems, FAA, and PIC.

Flight commander vs airline pilot overview

	Flight Commander	Airline Pilot
Yearly salary	$70,672	$85,534
Hourly rate	$33.98	$41.12
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	1,581	2,851
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 71%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

Flight commander vs airline pilot salary

Flight commanders and airline pilots have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Flight Commander	Airline Pilot
Average salary	$70,672	$85,534
Salary range	Between $49,000 And $101,000	Between $66,000 And $110,000
Highest paying City	-	Saint George, UT
Highest paying state	-	Oregon
Best paying company	-	Spirit Airlines
Best paying industry	-	Transportation

Differences between flight commander and airline pilot education

There are a few differences between a flight commander and an airline pilot in terms of educational background:

	Flight Commander	Airline Pilot
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 71%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common major	Business	Aviation
Most common college	SUNY Farmingdale	SUNY Farmingdale

Flight commander vs airline pilot demographics

Here are the differences between flight commanders' and airline pilots' demographics:

	Flight Commander	Airline Pilot
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 79.7% Female, 20.3%	Male, 92.4% Female, 7.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 2.7% White, 81.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%	Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 2.7% White, 82.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage	9%	9%

Differences between flight commander and airline pilot duties and responsibilities

Flight commander example responsibilities.

Develop and administer a continuity of operations plan which lead to fully survivable ISR network operations.
Lead several Russian inspectors during a highly-visible reentry vehicle inspection on-site inspection - commend for superb leadership
Provide quality maintain F-22A and F-15C/D fighter aircrafts on a worldwide basis.
Raise over $250K through special events and other fundraising activities for Eglin AFB.
Facilitate briefings to Slovenian general staff on the conduct of USAF airlift and mobility operations.
Instruct all phases of tactical fighter employment both on the ground and in the air.

Airline pilot example responsibilities.

Serve as a professional pilot managing a flight crew and ensuring safe transportation of VIP's internationally.
Assist with all aspects of administration, logistics and equipment inventory, ensuring successful financial execution.
Conduct pilot proficiency and standardization evaluations in both A320 aircraft and simulator.

Flight commander vs airline pilot skills

Common flight commander skills

Combat, 13%
Logistics Support, 7%
USAF, 6%
AFB, 6%
Training Programs, 6%
ACC, 5%

Common airline pilot skills

Aircraft Systems, 35%
FAA, 13%
PIC, 12%
Flight Operations, 10%
Federal Aviation, 8%
Pilot-In-Command, 6%

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Transportation Industry
Flight Commander
Flight Commander vs Airline Pilot

Updated January 8, 2025

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