Helicopter Pilot Salary

By Kyle Garrett

How much do helicopter pilots make? The short answer is, it depends. A helicopter flight instructor, flying a two-seat piston trainer is going to make a lot less than a pilot flying a twin engine turbine-powered Sikorski executive transport. The good news is that aside from the very lowest end of the scale, a helicopter pilot salary can provide a pilot with a very good living. The median salary for a typical helicopter pilot in the United States is upwards of $80,000 (according to salary.com). Get more information about helicopter pilot training.

Helicopter Pilot Salary

The type of helicopter you fly, your seniority with the company, and your rank all play a role in determining your pay. Helicopter pilots, by definition, are "commercial pilots" according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), because they get paid to fly. According to 2012 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, commercial pilots (which includes both helicopter and non-airline fixed-wing pilots) earned a median annual income of $73,280, with the middle 50% earning between $53,050 and $96,810. At the lowest end of the scale, 10% of commercial pilots earned less than $38,520, while the top 10% earned more than $134,990. Working conditions also affect the pay scale, as the more dangerous jobs or those that require pilots to spend a lot of time away from home tend to bring higher salaries.

The chart below shows commercial pilots' mean annual salary by industry (for those industries with the highest levels of employment):

Helicopter Pilot Benefits

Benefits for helicopter pilots vary tremendously. In your first job as a helicopter flight instructor, for example, you might not expect to get the best health insurance or life insurance. But as you move up in flight hours, rank, and seniority during your career as a helicopter pilot, you should be able to earn an excellent benefits package, along with potential bonuses. Many helicopter pilots work for large companies or government agencies, and it's in these types of jobs where you'll find the best benefits. Overall, the jobs outlook for the helicopter industry is quite promising. Learn more about helicopter pilot jobs.