Based on data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, on average, Airline Pilots make $198,190 annually, while Ship Captains make $98,330 per year. As a result, Airline Pilots earn a salary that is much higher than Ship Captains.
Nevertheless, it's worth noting that factors such as location, experience, and the specific workplace can affect salary. As an example, Ship Captains in Louisiana may have higher earnings (averaging $119,620 per year) compared to those in Wisconsin ($59,120).
Airline Pilots vs Ship Captains overview
Airline Pilots and Ship Captains are two important roles in the Air Transportation and Water Transportation industries respectively. Many people are interested in understanding the differences between these jobs, as well as the average salaries for each.
Airline Pilot job description
Alternative names: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Airline Pilots pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, national, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots.
Airline Pilot education and experience
The majority of Airline Pilots (61%) have obtained a Bachelor's Degree. However this occupation also includes some employees who have a High School Diploma (18%) and a Less than a High School Diploma (8%). In terms of experience, about a third of Airline Pilot jobs require a 2 to 4 years of experience in the field. A smaller percentage of jobs (17%) require a previous experience of 1 to 2 years.
Airline Pilot average salary
As reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, the number of Airline Pilots employed in the United States was 81,310, and they earned an average of $198,190 per year. The bottom 10 percent had a salary of $100,110 or less, and the top 10 percent had a salary of $208,000 or more. The average salary has an increase of 6.1% compared the previous year.
Do Airline Pilots make good money?
Airline Pilots are usually paid well, as their average salary is over two times higher than the average wage in the United States ($58,260). Moreover, they earn 130% more than the average wage of the Air Transportation industry ($86,310).
Airline Pilots are usually paid well, as their average salary is over two times higher than the average wage in the United States ($58,260).
Airline Pilots job growth
The hiring of Airline Pilots has decreased in the last two years. In 2021, there have been 2,240 less positions than the previous year nationwide, which marks a decrease of 2.7%. Job growth has averaged -0.6% for the last 3 years.
Ship Captain job description
Alternative names: Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
Ship Captains command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats. Required to hold license issued by U.S. Coast Guard.
Ship Captain education and experience
42% of Ship Captains have obtained a High School Diploma, 37% hold a Post-Secondary Certificate, and 8% have a Bachelor's Degree. Regarding experience, 39% of Ship Captain occupations require a 2 to 4 years of previous experience working in the field. A smaller portion of roles (20%) require a previous experience of 4 to 6 years.
Ship Captain average salary
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported that in 2021, there were 33,490 Ship Captains working in the United States, and on average, they earned $98,330 per year. The bottom 10 percent earned $37,240 or less, and the top 10 percent earned $159,690 or more. Compared to the previous year, the mean salary has increased by 9.6%.
Do Ship Captains make good money?
Ship Captains typically make good salaries, since their mean salary is 69% above the average pay in the United States ($58,260). Additionally, they make 19% more than the mean salary of the Water Transportation industry ($82,920).
Ship Captains typically make good salaries, since their mean salary is 69% above the average pay in the United States ($58,260).
Ship Captains job growth
In 2021, there have been 5,900 more Ship Captain job opportunities than the previous year across the nation, and that shows an increase of 21.4%. Over the past 3 years, job growth has averaged -1.4%.
FAQ
Do Airline Pilots or Ship Captains make more?
Airline Pilots earn 102% more than Ship Captains. Ship Captains average around $98,330 per year, while Airline Pilots make $198,190 per year.
How long does it take to become an Airline Pilot vs Ship Captain?
Airline Pilots typically need a Bachelor's Degree. A Bachelor's Degree usually takes around 4 years to obtain. On the other hand, Ship Captains typically only need a High School Diploma.
Is it harder to become an Airline Pilot vs Ship Captain?
It is more difficult to become an Airline Pilot than a Ship Captain, since it takes 4 more years of education.