Helicopter pilot salary reddit

Helicopter pilot salary reddit. 69. I really want to be a SAR pilot (like on an HH60j). Let me start of by apologizing for any typos - my laptop keyboard is sucking right now. Any other jobs other than a pilot, that your license and skill set could help you get on the civilian side? I'm a student pilot with about 20 hours, and I've been trying to do some research into how much pilots make in different industries, but I keep seeing wildly conflicting information. It is a smallish operation with plenty of work. Service Type. Posted by u/lonelyportrait123 - 6 votes and 15 comments It might be worth trying to speak to some actual Helimed pilots for more advice on this. I've been sending out the resume to anyone who might have an opening for a low-hour pilot, and in the meantime I working as ground crew. If you're a helicopter pilot, it's larger. Eh, this is up in air right now, a lot of ex army blackhawk pilots leaving the service don't have that many hours to get a job really. The degree of freedom you have is great, and maneuvering a helo feels so nimble compared to fixed wing. Some more some less and typically you CFI first then go fly tours as many tour operators need 500+ hours. Flying helicopters is way more fun, hands down. Took me 9 years to break $35k/year including my 6 years of ground crew/job hunting. It's because of this pilot shortage, though, and I'm not sure that's going to be the case for a long time. Salary estimates based on salary survey data collected directly from employers and anonymous employees in Australia. The barrier to entry is insanely high. Helicopter EMS does not pay terribly well unless you are in a very underserved area. You can easily make more money if you pick up open shifts. Low time helicopter pilots aren't needed and haven't been for years and the job market seems to shrink with the retirees. This leaves a bigger hole in qualified helicopter pilots and results in an even bigger push for the airlines. I’m no expert, but I think almost all their pilots are ex-military. Civilian helicopter pilot: The average salary for a civilian helicopter pilot is $100,249 per year, or about $48. That said some of those forestry guys do know helicopter ops managers which might indirectly get you into a company as a low timer easier. Some will get a job, but find the industry isn’t what they expected and don’t pursue it any further. Profit Sharing. My background: Navy Helo Pilot, turned Navy Helo Instructor, turned pretty standard d Try r/helicopters. According to a cursory google search, a CG helicopter pilot is paid a salary of around 113k. And then you're not marketable upon graduation. Two buddies one father and one son. Most pilots in civ world are getting that every month. These are the requirements for a commercial helicopter pilot license: Pass the knowledge exam. I know that CO firefighting pilot jobs generally officially only require 1000 hours, but "recommend" (i. It would probably not be a place you would want to live either (like middle of nowhere NM or NV). You don't become a helicopter pilot for the money. Military helicopter pilots get a lot more experience of landing off-airport than a civilian pilot would normally get, which is obviously a key part of the job. Where do these heli pilots get their jobs? I'm already an Auxiliary Police Officer and have a possible future in becoming a full time police officer. Full Time. If you compare the fun of flying to driving, rotary wing flying that much more fun than fixed wing (in my opinion). You still won't really have the experience for any utility jobs at that point but you can at least start applying to them and hope to get lucky. May 10, 2024 · MEDIAN. That means that not only do you need a bunch of experience first and some specific type of experience everyone and their dog (pretty sure Bentley the bulldog has more hours than half the applicants) is applying for those jobs. The jobs have a lot of similarities and a lot of differences. Bonus. [Retired National Guard Pilot, UH-60]. How much does a Helicopter Pilot make near you? Get a free salary report today. I have heard a broad range of salary differences from 50k to 100k+. I've been a helicopter mechanic for nearly 20 years. Aside from airlines, there is charter, corporate, cargo, bush flying in Alaska, flight instructing, crop dusting. Just go to airinepilotcentral and look at the pay rates, a good rule of thumb is multiply the hourly pay rate by 1000. Your salary will go up well. Pilot is not a profession that will get visas to work in other countries easily. Best For Military Helicopter Pilots: Army National Guard Units Maintenance Test Pilot; Best For Skydiving Helicopter Pilots: Jump Pilot Academy The success rate (actually flying helicopters for pay as a career) is low for new commercial helicopters pilots in Canada. I don't think moving the Marines around a lot would really fall on any of those communities because the Marines have their own helicopter pilots flying their own aircraft. I was going through job postings earlier this year and saw the Alameda County SO was looking for a pilot with 1,000 total hours with 500 PIC but that was rotor time. Father makes $140K/yr. I've gone from military to EMS and now corporate/VIP/charter. Lastly, I asked this already with the other guy already but those big 200k+ Air Canada jobs, are those like top 1% of the profession kind of thing, or can a good pilot reasonably expect to reach that level over time. The father was a military helo pilot. The name is synonymous with airline pilot but it applies to everyone who gets paid to fly. Im 17 turning 18 in 10 days and about to graduate high school and I really have no direction, I have always loved helicopters and have been taking a ton of engineering courses including aerospace engineering at my high school but I don't know the process of becoming a pilot. I will stick to your first 10 years (~ your initial commitment and try to keep my comments reflective of which part of those 10 years you will face). Air Force Academy and the U. Jul 19, 2024 · Salary packages in every country and region differ because of national wage standards and living costs. $55k - $122k. We’re also seeing companies willing to take pilots that don’t necessarily have all the experience, and give the, a chance to work their way up. $88k. That's not much less than this gig and they don't pay near as well For experienced pilots, particularly those with specific skills, such as utility pilots, salaries have been increasing a good amount the last year or two. With your degree I would commission where you will be making 100-120K (30K tax free) if on active duty. I've always been interested in becoming a Helicopter pilot, but flight school is insanely expensive. Son makes $80k+ as Hawaii tourist pilots owning 3 birds. I've just started this job I'm at making my requested salary of $80k. Fast forward a year or so and I've finished by CPL and got my b206 rating. Apr 13, 2024 · The average salary for a Helicopter Pilot in Australia is AU$77,419 in 2024. I wouldn't think helicopter pilot would be a saturated job market. Among that paperwork you will indicate which jobs you are interested in. Officer Entry: RMC - Duntroon; Officer Entry: ADFA; Salary. Expect low/no chance of finding a job next couple years then it bounces back to just a struggle to find one. I am also interested in becoming a CG helicopter pilot after college. I'm not sure how trustworthy this information is, so I was wondering if you could shed some light on it. 2,000 hours of pilot-in-command flying helicopters, which must include the following: At least 500 hours of mountain pilot-in-command helicopter flight time, routinely making landings in mountainous terrain above 4,000 feet MSL. $2 - $1k. There are a whole bunch of jobs. Base Salary. I probably have the most "ate-up" (to use a military term) path to being a helicopter pilot. Get the Reddit app Scan this QR code to download the app now Commercial Helicopter Pilot Costs upvotes Airline pilot salary upvotes Navy/Marine dudes don't get out with the same number of hours the Army folks have after 20 years, so much less likely to get a helicopter job. $75k should be bare minimum salary for pilot. Mid-level jobs can be very hit-or-miss, especially if you aren't geographically flexible. If you want a stable, reliable career, you should fly airplanes. Assuming you're American, both flight instructor and tour pilot are entry level jobs that will make around $30-35k/year. Hi, currently I’m in the Air Force. Every flight during the week takes about 4 hours after all the paperwork to get 1. 18 votes, 14 comments. Available jobs. saw a pilot who grossed over 100k because reasons for a month). Well, I am officially putting tour helicopter pilot on my list of very underpaid professionals. Civilian training for helos will cost you about $80k-$100k minimum. Visit PayScale to research helicopter pilot salaries by city, experience, skill, employer and more. EMS pilots salary starts around $82-90k. If you're interested in a civilian career in aviation, the airlines have very streamline programs to get military rotary pilots into their fixed wing pipeline. In garrison, some guys hardly met their semi-annual hour requirements. Sep 13, 2024 · The average helicopter pilot gross salary in Australia is $136,994 or an equivalent hourly rate of $66. If you list more than pilot you will be expected to pick from whichever jobs you are given. After getting 1000hrs ish of piston time you look for turbine hours at a better tour operator. I've steadily increased my wages by moving companies but I still feel like I'm always behind the industry standard. Jun 2, 2022 · Quicklooks: Entry Level Helicopter Pilot Companies. Helos are not hard to get out of primary flight training, helo drafts are kinda common since they require more pilots in general than the other communities. com, the world's largest job site. Jul 30, 2024 · Related: 15 In-Demand Pilot Jobs (Plus Duties and Salaries) 6. I would make $400 a night bartending and now get paid even better with a license that took 4 weeks to get and a couple hundred dollars. Life of a Wildfire Helicopter Pilot (Part 1/9) Sadly your connection there is probably useless. First jobs for low time helicopter pilots will be either CFI or tours both of which will have low pay. If you get selected for pilot you'll be guaranteed pilot and a 10 year commitment, if you pass your flight physicals, don't get in trouble, and make it through training. In addition, they earn an average bonus of $4,137. Depending on the details of the work they do and where they do it, helicopter pilots may earn between $128,184. Jobs for helicopter pilots are nearly non-existent. If you are looking for money, fly airplanes. So, you've got to slave away in low-paying jobs in order to build flight time. If you are confident you can study and work harder than your competition, you can make it in the helicopter world. you have certifications on Airbus 320 and Boeing 777), that adds to your salary as well. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. ). But yeah, if you're thinking of flying post-career, fixed wing is the way to go. Now, if you have multiple ratings on different aircraft (e. Ended up going to the Naval Academy as my chances of being a pilot were actually better in the Navy at the time. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $90,875 to $144,194 with the average total cash compensation of $114,056. Civilian jobs: they actually just opened some new paths for helicopter pilots to go become commercial airline pilots. Search 51 Helicopter Pilot jobs now available on Indeed. The job postings found are for all Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors (NOC 72600 That being said, helicopter flying in my opinion is way more fun, and the jobs are very engaging compared to say an airline spending a majority of the time on autopilot. Main thing I miss about previous jobs is schedule certainty. Their pilots are civilians and not sworn officers so there are some jobs out there that don't require the street time before you get in the air. I'd love to become a heli pilot for EMS for Medevac, or LE, or Coast guard. No one will be able to sponsor a low time pilot because there are already too many of them for the jobs that do exist (only 1/3 from my class ever flew again after flight school for lack of jobs). You work 6 months a year. We found 29 helicopter pilot jobs in Canada on Job Bank. They don't have enough hours to pick up a turbine job and then they don't have any experience at all flying single pilot in a Robinson. Any jobs that do exist are usually taken by military pilots that come out with thousands of hours. Some won’t get jobs right away, and give up. $66k - $120k. . You could get other helicopter jobs to bring your hours up and meet the requirements for higher paying jobs (like search and rescue) To get your first job as a CFI, itll run you $50-60k, alot, but not undoable There are three helicopter communities in the navy: HSC, HSM, and HM. Son has only been flying about six yrs. My father was a petroleum engineer with his life long friend an oil rig helicopter pilot. $60,000 to $110,000-ish per year for captains (but you'd have to be in the game for a while to hit the higher end) EMS is the goal for most wannabe helicopter pilots if Reddit is anything to go by and hell was the reason I got a license myself. You should be at $100K within 2 to 3 years of completing your CFI. I know many helicopter pilots and I know they make a livable wage, but I think it depends on what you are doing. This is a rule of thumb to get an estimate on annual pay, the problem is we're paid by the hour so there's a lot of fluctuation (eg. Then you will chances to move up to bigger aircraft like the Sikorsky S76, S92. 5 hrs of flight time. How much did you average as a pilot in different fields and did you make more or… 21 votes, 24 comments. 02 and $404,442. S. There are always more new pilot than their are jobs for low time pilots. Airlines typically pay the best. Son learned from his father who now owns the company. For example, one website says that senior Delta captains make between $250-350k per year, but another site says that they make upwards of $650k. Naval Academy. I would like some advice as how I can go about transitioning from my career field into a helicopter pilot for the Air Force. The 2024 average Helicopter Pilot salary in the US is $107,066. If you absolutely love helicopters and are willing to take a pay cut and quality of life cut, a few jobs do exist for helicopter Jun 6, 2024 · Helicopter pilot salaries fall within a broad pay range. Navy helicopter pilot here. I’m an 3e5x1 in tech school. For example, helicopter pilots in the Netherlands make around €2,640 to €7,970 ($2,879 to $8691) monthly, and on the other hand, the helicopter pilot salary per month in Germany is between €1,870 and €6,470 ($1,995 to $7,055). Entry Methods. Military helicopter pilot: Salaries for military helicopter pilots can vary by city, with some earning over $120,000 annually. 221K subscribers in the Helicopters community. Forestry will hire companies and companies assign qualified pilots. $544 - $20k. Aviation is funny that way. e. The exact amount you can earn as a rotary-wing pilot varies with location, employer, and job duties. com The base salary for Helicopter Pilot ranges from $90,804 to $137,623 with the average base salary of $107,066. On top of that, you get a lot of different allowances (transportation, cost of living, hotel and meal allowances, per diems, clothing, etc. Seems like there are a lot of interesting jobs around the world, I'd like to do some interesting flying, and see new places… A while back I asked this subreddit for advice on the PStar. true. A subreddit for helicopter industry professionals and enthusiasts 12 votes, 14 comments. To add Type 1 to the group: I've seen Co-Pilot salaries pretty low (but you don't have to have the 1,500hrs PIC if you are content with SIC time) $10,000 to $40,000 for the season depending on company. You will fly a lot and build time quickly (if the economy recovers). If you only list pilot, you will only be considered for pilot, but if you do not get pilot, you will have to reapply all over again. You will be paid while you train, and on completion of your Initial Military Training and Employment Training, you’ll earn at least: Entry level jobs in aviation generally suck, especially if you don't like teaching (I like teaching, thankfully). The average salary for a Helicopter Pilot is $88,275 in 2024. require with a little bit of bend for the right applicant) 3,000 hours total, 1,000 hours of mountain flying, and 5 years operating near-ground high-altitude flight jobs. At least 500 hours of turbine helicopter time as pilot-in- command. Direct training costs in Canada are going to be around $70k (about 100 hours of flight time * ~$500 per hour in a basic training machine, plus allowance for theory courses, exams and equipment). I've seen Navy dudes pick up jobs with the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, medivac helicopter pilot, and even border patrol. The math doesn’t work out. 12 votes, 17 comments. A maintenance pilot or instructor will get hours, but a pilot who hasn’t made PIC or an untracked PC won’t get the hours. Earn commercial helicopter pilot license You are eligible to get your commercial helicopter pilot license (CPL(H)) after you have achieved your private license. Any pilot for gets paid to fly is a commercial pilot. Ok, back from sleeping and working. The schedule is week on, week off 12 hour shifts. Army National Guard is hurting for pilots. Not a dumb question, but no you can't really do that. Unfortunately, helicopter pilots do not make what commercial fixed wing guys make. 90% $120k. That’s less than 150 hours per year. I applied to both the U. g. Global offshore salaries can be as high as $250k - $300k for the rare few with the right experience at the right time but this would be extremely unlikely for the typical pilot to ever land without multiple years of management/training/OEM experience. 20 per hour. See full list on pilotteacher. Total Pay. Propilot magazine publishes a salary survey every year. eeglskq hmomvt bptavi nwiwye jkhw nnyg tqf kxvc rxqzy iemt