Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between flight test engineers and test 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 test engineer and a test pilot. Additionally, a test pilot has an average salary of $96,060, which is higher than the $90,538 average annual salary of a flight test engineer.
The top three skills for a flight test engineer include control room, data analysis and test procedures. The most important skills for a test pilot are FAA, pilot-in-command, and aircraft maintenance.
| Flight Test Engineer | Test Pilot | |
| Yearly salary | $90,538 | $96,060 |
| Hourly rate | $43.53 | $46.18 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 26,384 | 20,665 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A flight test engineer is primarily in charge of testing and overseeing aircraft performances, ensuring every aspect aligns with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other governing agencies' policies and regulations. Their responsibilities revolve around planning and developing efficient test structures and criteria, examining mechanical and electrical systems, coordinating with other staff to gather necessary documentation, assessing risks, and identifying an aircraft's strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, as a flight test engineer, it is essential to analyze data and produce extensive reports that explain all test procedures and observations in detail.
A test pilot operates and evaluates aircraft to determine its quality and safety. Their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing aircraft data and specifications, assessing the aircraft's features, documenting every procedure, and making a list of recommendations to improve the aircraft's overall quality and performance. They may also evaluate various instruments and systems, performing maintenance checks as necessary. Being a test pilot requires expertise and skills, which is my most test pilots are employed under government agencies and have undergone special training.
Flight test engineers and test pilots have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flight Test Engineer | Test Pilot | |
| Average salary | $90,538 | $96,060 |
| Salary range | Between $66,000 And $123,000 | Between $67,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Palo Alto, CA | Mountain View, CA |
| Highest paying state | Illinois | California |
| Best paying company | Amazon | Learjet |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a flight test engineer and a test pilot in terms of educational background:
| Flight Test Engineer | Test Pilot | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 74% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Aerospace Engineering | Aviation |
| Most common college | Georgia Institute of Technology | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between flight test engineers' and test pilots' demographics:
| Flight Test Engineer | Test Pilot | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.6% Female, 10.4% | Male, 91.3% Female, 8.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 4.2% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 11.4% Asian, 10.9% White, 68.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 2.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 2.8% White, 81.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 9% |