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The differences between pilots 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 and a pilot captain. Additionally, a pilot has an average salary of $83,128, which is higher than the $68,096 average annual salary of a pilot captain.
The top three skills for a pilot include PIC, pilot-in-command and flight operations. The most important skills for a pilot captain are PIC, FAA, and IFR.
| Pilot | Pilot Captain | |
| Yearly salary | $83,128 | $68,096 |
| Hourly rate | $39.97 | $32.74 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 3,049 | 5,093 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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.
Pilots and pilot captains have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pilot | Pilot Captain | |
| Average salary | $83,128 | $68,096 |
| Salary range | Between $58,000 And $118,000 | Between $57,000 And $81,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | HP | Wiggins Airways |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a pilot and a pilot captain in terms of educational background:
| Pilot | Pilot Captain | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 59% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | SUNY Farmingdale |
Here are the differences between pilots' and pilot captains' demographics:
| Pilot | Pilot Captain | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 70.7% Female, 29.3% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |