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The differences between test pilots and air tour 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 test pilot and an air tour pilot. Additionally, an air tour pilot has an average salary of $101,440, which is higher than the $96,060 average annual salary of a test pilot.
The top three skills for a test pilot include FAA, pilot-in-command and aircraft maintenance. The most important skills for an air tour pilot are PIC, customer service, and UAV.
| Test Pilot | Air Tour Pilot | |
| Yearly salary | $96,060 | $101,440 |
| Hourly rate | $46.18 | $48.77 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 20,665 | 3,885 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A test pilot operates and evaluates aircraft to determine its quality and safety. Their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing aircraft data and specifications, assessing the aircraft's features, documenting every procedure, and making a list of recommendations to improve the aircraft's overall quality and performance. They may also evaluate various instruments and systems, performing maintenance checks as necessary. Being a test pilot requires expertise and skills, which is my most test pilots are employed under government agencies and have undergone special training.
Air Tour Pilots fly and navigate helicopters, planes, or any other aircraft providing rides to tourists. The pilot's transport passengers between local destinations, answer queries regarding the areas they pass by, or explain sightseeing opportunities. They usually work for certain companies to transport cargo on their fixed schedules. They conduct safety audits for operations specifications to ensure that the aircraft operates within the safety margins. Also, they take part in station leadership teams representing flight operations.
Test pilots and air tour pilots have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Test Pilot | Air Tour Pilot | |
| Average salary | $96,060 | $101,440 |
| Salary range | Between $67,000 And $137,000 | Between $78,000 And $131,000 |
| Highest paying City | Mountain View, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | Learjet | - |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | - |
There are a few differences between a test pilot and an air tour pilot in terms of educational background:
| Test Pilot | Air Tour Pilot | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 61% | Bachelor's Degree, 55% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | Stanford University | SUNY Farmingdale |
Here are the differences between test pilots' and air tour pilots' demographics:
| Test Pilot | Air Tour Pilot | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.3% Female, 8.7% | Male, 97.1% Female, 2.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 2.8% White, 81.3% 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% |