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Pilot vs corporate pilot

The differences between pilots 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 and a corporate pilot. Additionally, a corporate pilot has an average salary of $87,661, which is higher than the $83,128 average annual salary of a pilot.

The top three skills for a pilot include PIC, pilot-in-command and flight operations. The most important skills for a corporate pilot are FAA, pilot-in-command, and PIC.

Pilot vs corporate pilot overview

PilotCorporate Pilot
Yearly salary$83,128$87,661
Hourly rate$39.97$42.14
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs3,04912,371
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a pilot do?

A pilot is an individual who works in the aviation industry to operate aircraft and transport passengers and cargos from one location to another. Pilots can fly and navigate different types of aircrafts such as helicopters, large commercial aircraft, or cargo planes. They must perform pre-flight inspections and check flight logs to secure safety for all crews and passengers who are on board. Pilots can also decide to work as flight instructors or establish an aviation school when they have gained enough experience in the aviation industry.

What does a corporate pilot do?

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 vs corporate pilot salary

Pilots and corporate pilots have different pay scales, as shown below.

PilotCorporate Pilot
Average salary$83,128$87,661
Salary rangeBetween $58,000 And $118,000Between $63,000 And $120,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyHP-
Best paying industryTransportation-

Differences between pilot and corporate pilot education

There are a few differences between a pilot and a corporate pilot in terms of educational background:

PilotCorporate Pilot
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 59%Bachelor's Degree, 71%
Most common majorAviationAviation
Most common collegeSUNY FarmingdaleStanford University

Pilot vs corporate pilot demographics

Here are the differences between pilots' and corporate pilots' demographics:

PilotCorporate Pilot
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 70.7% Female, 29.3%Male, 94.0% Female, 6.0%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 Percentage9%9%

Differences between pilot and corporate pilot duties and responsibilities

Pilot example responsibilities.

  • Pilot company Lear 35 and manage the department.
  • Manage the UAV payload on the ground and in the air to meet customer expectations.
  • Serve as a professional pilot managing a flight crew and ensuring safe transportation of VIP's internationally.
  • Supervise aircraft maintenance activity on P-3C patrol and UH-1N helicopter aircraft.
  • Transport people and parts to offshore facilities in VFR and IFR conditions
  • Serve as remote pic and visual observer on a team on various projects involving UAV applications.
  • Show more

Corporate pilot example responsibilities.

  • Serve as a professional pilot managing a flight crew and ensuring safe transportation of VIP's internationally.
  • Develop and implement operational and administrative policies to align company policies and procedures with government (FAA) regulatory guidelines.
  • Conduct pilot proficiency and standardization evaluations in both A320 aircraft and simulator.

Pilot vs corporate pilot skills

Common pilot skills
  • PIC, 16%
  • Pilot-In-Command, 13%
  • Flight Operations, 8%
  • ATP, 7%
  • Helicopter, 5%
  • Federal Aviation, 5%
Common corporate pilot skills
  • FAA, 26%
  • Pilot-In-Command, 19%
  • PIC, 18%
  • CFR, 7%
  • ATP, 5%
  • Corporate Aircraft, 4%

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