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What is a pilot captain and how to become one
Pilot captains have an adequate amount of experience. They are responsible for handling the flight, passenger, and crew, and are the highest authority. They are in charge of ensuring that all necessary procedures and safety checks are intact. Their responsibility may include checking weather and flight plans, coordinating with air-traffic controllers and airport personnel while working together with co-pilots, and addressing issues and concerns that arise, resolving them promptly and efficiently.
Pilot captains, working at an average of 40 hours per week, earn $32 an hour, translating to $66,000 on average.
Avg. Salary $68,096
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 6%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.26%
Asian 2.78%
Black or African American 2.74%
Hispanic or Latino 7.24%
Unknown 5.58%
White 81.40%
Genderfemale 7.39%
male 92.61%
Age - 44American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 44Stress level is very high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is challenging
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is poor
6.4 - fair
Pilot Captain career paths
Key steps to become a pilot captain
Explore pilot captain education requirements
Start to develop specific pilot captain skills
Skills 
Percentages PIC 37.04% FAA 25.22% IFR 15.90% Icao 5.27% Flight Safety 4.89% Complete relevant pilot captain training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New pilot captains learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a pilot captain based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real pilot captain resumes.Research pilot captain duties and responsibilities
- Lead a platoon that earn numerous awards for jamming opposition force artillery nets and conducting counterattacks on opposition electronic warfare platoons.
- Evaluate trainee knowledge of aircraft systems and company procedures and adherence to FAA standards.
- Perform UAS and grind equipment testing, troubleshooting, and maintenance.
- Provide UAV mission support and flight instruction, annual proficiency reviews, and flight evaluations.
Prepare your pilot captain resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your pilot captain resume.
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Choose From 10+ Customizable Pilot Captain Resume templates
Build a professional Pilot Captain resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Pilot Captain resume.
Apply for pilot captain jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a pilot captain job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Pilot Captain Job
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Average pilot captain salary
The average Pilot Captain salary in the United States is $68,096 per year or $33 per hour. Pilot captain salaries range between $57,000 and $81,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do pilot captains rate their job?
Pilot Captain reviews
challenges career opportunities learning opportunities
Workload 24/7 availability
nothing at all. The way i look at it its kind of nonsense. best da.
Every day at work was different. Each flight was different and flying an airplane well is challenging. When an airline pilot has completed their flight assignment they go home and do not think about the job until the next time they go to work. The FAA regulations require rest periods and days off for pilots. A normal flight schedule offers 8- 20 days off per month. A pilot can choose to fly trips that are 1- 12 days long. Most airlines have a seniority system. This means that the airplane and crew position are determined by the date you were hired. Generally speaking, Senior pilots are Captains that fly the airplane with highest pay rate. Senior pilots also have the best flight schedule. Starting pay at the major airlines in 2019 is about $85,000 year. Senior pilots flying wide-body airplanes can earn up to $600,000 year flying an international schedule
Jet-lag. Fatigue is a fact of life for an airline pilot. Domestic flying often includes trips that depart at 11:00 PM and arrive early in the morning. International trips fly all over the world at all hours of the day. Pilots learn to deal with jet-lag and fatigue, but it remains a fact of life for most aviators
Updated January 8, 2025
