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The differences between maintenance engineers 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 maintenance engineer and an aircraft pilot. Additionally, an aircraft pilot has an average salary of $94,207, which is higher than the $47,133 average annual salary of a maintenance engineer.
The top three skills for a maintenance engineer include plumbing, HVAC and guest rooms. The most important skills for an aircraft pilot are FAA, airspace, and mission planning.
| Maintenance Engineer | Aircraft Pilot | |
| Yearly salary | $47,133 | $94,207 |
| Hourly rate | $22.66 | $45.29 |
| Growth rate | 5% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 97,957 | 5,585 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A maintenance engineer is responsible for the maintenance of industrial machinery and inspects equipment defects for immediate troubleshooting or replacement as needed. Maintenance engineers install and upgrade system components to improve system optimization and perform diagnostic systems to locate any adjustments. They also conduct routine checks, assist clients with technical faults, and ensure that the equipment works safely for certain operations. A maintenance engineer must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry to address technical malfunctions immediately.
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.
Maintenance engineers and aircraft pilots have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Maintenance Engineer | Aircraft Pilot | |
| Average salary | $47,133 | $94,207 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $74,000 | Between $72,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | La Quinta, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Halliburton | Michels |
| Best paying industry | - | Energy |
There are a few differences between a maintenance engineer and an aircraft pilot in terms of educational background:
| Maintenance Engineer | Aircraft Pilot | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 48% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Mechanical Engineering | Aviation |
| Most common college | - | SUNY Farmingdale |
Here are the differences between maintenance engineers' and aircraft pilots' demographics:
| Maintenance Engineer | Aircraft Pilot | |
| Average age | 47 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.6% Female, 5.4% | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.4% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 4.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% | 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 | 2% | 9% |