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The differences between pilot instructors and pilot captains 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 pilot captain. Additionally, a pilot instructor has an average salary of $90,143, which is higher than the $68,096 average annual salary of a pilot captain.
The top three skills for a pilot instructor include FAA, simulator and instructor pilot. The most important skills for a pilot captain are PIC, FAA, and IFR.
| Pilot Instructor | Pilot Captain | |
| Yearly salary | $90,143 | $68,096 |
| Hourly rate | $43.34 | $32.74 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 26,978 | 5,093 |
| 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.
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.
Pilot instructors and pilot captains have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pilot Instructor | Pilot Captain | |
| Average salary | $90,143 | $68,096 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $133,000 | Between $57,000 And $81,000 |
| Highest paying City | Trenton, NJ | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | OBXtek | Wiggins Airways |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a pilot instructor and a pilot captain in terms of educational background:
| Pilot Instructor | Pilot Captain | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | SUNY Farmingdale |
Here are the differences between pilot instructors' and pilot captains' demographics:
| Pilot Instructor | Pilot Captain | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| 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, 2.7% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 81.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |