We've already discussed that the captain of a boat probably earns more than you think they do. You probably assumed that the pilot of a plane would make more money perhaps not as much as this! It makes sense when you think about it though; we've all seen how many buttons and dials there are in a cockpit. A pilot knows what every single one of them does, and assumes the full responsibility for every life that boards their plane.
To become a captain, a pilot must have an appropriate license, at least 135 flights under their belt and more than 2,500 hours in the air. A clean bill of health is also a basic requirement. The route of the flight, your speed and your take-off and landing routine are all yours to decide. As we've seen elsewhere already, this level of responsibility comes with appropriate financial rewards.