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The differences between pilot instructors and corporate 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 instructor and a corporate pilot. Additionally, a pilot instructor has an average salary of $90,143, which is higher than the $87,661 average annual salary of a corporate pilot.
The top three skills for a pilot instructor include FAA, simulator and instructor pilot. The most important skills for a corporate pilot are FAA, pilot-in-command, and PIC.
| Pilot Instructor | Corporate Pilot | |
| Yearly salary | $90,143 | $87,661 |
| Hourly rate | $43.34 | $42.14 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 26,978 | 12,371 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The key role of a Pilot Instructor is to teach students procedures and techniques about how to fly aircraft. They offer instruction for both on the ground and in the sky, prepare lesson plans, and assess and monitor students performance.
Typically working for large companies, a corporate pilot's role is to operate company aircraft for official work trips. Their responsibilities include coordinating with airports, directing and overseeing flight crew, preparing and processing documentation, and adhering to all the protocols and safety checks to ensure safety and efficiency. There are also instances where they must meet and greet passengers, file itinerary plans, and resolve issues and concerns. Furthermore, a corporate pilot must perform regular inspections and maintain an active communication line with staff on land and within the aircraft.
Pilot instructors and corporate pilots have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pilot Instructor | Corporate Pilot | |
| Average salary | $90,143 | $87,661 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $133,000 | Between $63,000 And $120,000 |
| Highest paying City | Trenton, NJ | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | OBXtek | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a pilot instructor and a corporate pilot in terms of educational background:
| Pilot Instructor | Corporate Pilot | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between pilot instructors' and corporate pilots' demographics:
| Pilot Instructor | Corporate Pilot | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 94.0% Female, 6.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.1% Asian, 2.8% White, 81.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.8% Asian, 2.7% White, 82.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |