How Much Is a Helicopter Pilot's Salary?
- Helicopter pilots make a base salary of $52,492 to $80,984 per year as of January 2011, according to the PayScale Report. Adding annual bonuses and profit-sharing can boost total compensation to $52,854 to $85,874 yearly.
- More experience leads to higher salaries as helicopter pilots learn to cope with more flying situations, develop reputations and increase their potential base of employers and customers. For example, those with one to four years of work make $41,356 to $60,279 per year, and those with five to nine years get $50,421 to $69,369. At 10 to 19 years of experience, they earn $59,892 to $90,248, and at 20 years or more, they receive $55,914 to $94,987.
- The hiring industry can affect salaries because it determines the type of aircraft, terrain, customers and flying schedule. Commercial aviation shows the widest and highest range of pay at $45,000 to $103,593 per year, as helicopter pilots transport both passengers and cargo on scheduled routes. Emergency medical services pay $51,844 to $68,017 annually and involve fast, unscheduled flights in life-or-death situations. In law enforcement, pilots may be involved in everything from traffic surveillance to locating suspects. It pays $55,044 to $92,767 yearly.
- The city of employment can determine pay with two of the highest-paying cities located in California. Los Angeles has the second-largest population in the U.S. spread out over nearly 500 square miles. Salaries here run $68,440 to $117,404 per year. San Diego, with a smaller population but a high cost of living, has employers that pay $55,000 to $100,000 annually. Another city with a big area is Houston, Texas, the fourth-largest city in nation. Compensation here is at a yearly $50,500 to $90,000.