How much does a helicopter pilot make?

Most helicopter pilots have to settle for short term jobs, lower pay and multiple relocations.

Helicopter pilot salary statistics

Wages range from $45,000 to $90,000 per year, depending on your employer, your years of expertise and the sort of helicopter you fly. For example, helicopter pilots of sight-seeing tours and charters bring in $45,000 to $85,000; aerial firefighting aviators, $80,000; to $80,000 per year; medical helicopter pilots, $40,000 and military helicopter aviators, $60,000 to $100,000.

The Starting Helicopter Pilot Wages: getting paid in flight-hours

Beginning pilots usually have to spend some time as a flight instructor, because it’s hard finding a real job without any experience. Flight instructors are for the most part not paid with cash, but with the value that comes from obtaining flight hours. Distinct schools also have huge swings in pay scales depending on operating costs and teacher experience of the school. If you’ve got lots of students at a school that is big chances are you’ll be doing nicely. At a small school with only a few students, until you can build more hours you may have to take on a second job. A typical, full-time flight instructor can anticipate making $30,000 during the first year. It may not sound like a lot of money but is crucial for building helicopter flight time for pilot jobs with a wages that is higher.

The Mid-Range Helicopter Pilot Salary

Once you get somewhere over 1,000 hours you’ll be capable to securebetter helicopter pilot jobs, and most definitely one with a better salary than what you have been getting. Flying as a tour aviator in a turbine helicopter is normally the next progression. An entry-level turbine tour pilot typically makes around $40,000-$50, 000 . But much of this depends on location, firm size, experience level, etc.
Pilots in emergency services typically make more cash. A helicopter pilot wages for EMS can range from $50,000-$90,000 per year.

The High End Helicopter Pilot Salary
The high end of helicopter pilot wages include jobs flying the offshore oilrigs, and for business executives and other VIPs.
Payscale.com has also found that some of the higher-paying helicopter pilot occupations are in Jacksonville, Florida, where a typical helicopter pilot wages of $108,000 was reported. Similar wages were reported in San Diego and New York. Some of this is as a compensation for the higher costs if living in these areas; you’ll make more, but you will also spend more.