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The differences between pilot captains 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 pilot captain and an aircraft pilot. Additionally, an aircraft pilot has an average salary of $94,207, which is higher than the $68,096 average annual salary of a pilot captain.
The top three skills for a pilot captain include PIC, FAA and IFR. The most important skills for an aircraft pilot are FAA, airspace, and mission planning.
| Pilot Captain | Aircraft Pilot | |
| Yearly salary | $68,096 | $94,207 |
| Hourly rate | $32.74 | $45.29 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 5,093 | 5,585 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A pilot captain is an experienced pilot who is primarily responsible for the flight, passengers, and crew. As the pilot with the highest authority in an aircraft, they are in charge of ensuring that all necessary procedures and safety checks are carried out before, during, and after flights. It is also their duty to conduct weather and flight plan checks, coordinate with air-traffic controllers and airport personnel while working together with co-pilots, and addressing issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently.
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.
Pilot captains and aircraft pilots have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pilot Captain | Aircraft Pilot | |
| Average salary | $68,096 | $94,207 |
| Salary range | Between $57,000 And $81,000 | Between $72,000 And $122,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | La Quinta, CA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Wiggins Airways | Michels |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Energy |
There are a few differences between a pilot captain and an aircraft pilot in terms of educational background:
| Pilot Captain | Aircraft Pilot | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 71% | Bachelor's Degree, 77% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | SUNY Farmingdale |
Here are the differences between pilot captains' and aircraft pilots' demographics:
| Pilot Captain | Aircraft Pilot | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% | Male, 95.7% Female, 4.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 81.4% 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% |