Career comparison
Commercial Pilot vs. Deckhand
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Commercial pilots earn more at the median ($123,220 vs. $51,520), while deckhands usually get to work faster (1–4 weeks of training). Commercial pilots fly airplanes and helicopters for charter, cargo, tours, agriculture and more. Deckhands work aboard tugboats, barges, ferries and ships handling lines, cargo and maintenance.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Commercial Pilot | Deckhand | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $123,220 | $51,520 ($24.77/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $58,850 – $266,620 | $34,560 – $83,620 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.2% (faster than average) | +3.2% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 5,200 | 3,600 |
| Typical entry education | Postsecondary nondegree award | No formal educational credential |
| Training time | 1–2 years of flight training | 1–4 weeks |
| Key credential | Commercial pilot certificate | Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) |
| Work setting | Pilots work in cockpits, on ramps and in flight planning offices. | Deckhands work on vessels in all weather, on slippery decks, around heavy lines and machinery and far from shore. |
What each job does
Commercial Pilot
- Plan flights and check weather and NOTAMs
- Calculate weight, balance and performance
- Inspect aircraft before flight
- Fly safely under FAA regulations
- Communicate with air traffic control
Deckhand
- Handle mooring lines and tie up vessels
- Build and break barge tows
- Stand lookout and security watches
- Load, secure and check cargo
- Clean, chip and paint the vessel
How they’re similar
Both careers involve travel and hands-on work. Both are part of the transportation & logistics field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose commercial pilot if…
- I’ve always wanted to fly
- I stay calm when things go wrong
- I can follow checklists precisely
Choose deckhand if…
- I love being on the water
- I can be away for weeks at a time
- I like hard physical work
Still torn? Take the Commercial Pilot fit quiz and the Deckhand fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, commercial pilot or deckhand?
Commercial Pilots earn more at the median: $123,220 versus $51,520 for deckhands, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Deckhands typically train faster (1–4 weeks) than commercial pilots (1–2 years of flight training).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects commercial pilots to grow +5.2% from 2025–35, compared with +3.2% for deckhands.