https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20221010-the-workers-leaving-their-dream-jobs

Best line out of the article: “And to some extent, the employers might know this and thus ask those dedicated and passionate employees to take on additional work or abide by dreadful conditions.” 

That's HAA in a nutshell and a decent reflection of the helicopter industry as a whole.  For those of you working sweet paying gigs with employers who care about you: congrats.  

For the rest of you: don't settle for work that will keep you a slave past retirement!  Do the math.  Find something else.  Especially when your job doesn't keep up with inflation or pay for the experience you actually bring to the table.

Recently left the helicopter world after following the helicopter dream for the past 20 years and happy to see it in the mirror.  Never thought I'd say that either. 

Better salary and better schedule make family life even better than any "dream" I was following as a pilot.  Wish I'd have realized it 10 years ago (sucky pay for the first ten years is fine... then reality hits you about kids, cars, house, grandkids, retirement, etc.).

 I am 24 years HEMS and couldn't agree with you more. I will say I have no regrets based on what I knew in the early days and I have enjoyed my crews i have worked with and all three of the company's I have worked for ( last 10 years and still with AMC ) I dont like some of the company decisions made along the way , but C'est la vie.   I choose this life and am happy to live with my decisions.. I am also happy for those that make the decision to move on to a new career and life experience.  I am just jealous of you as I am weak when it comes to change. 

Although I sometimes don't agree with every thing he says, I certainly w/ anonymous 

agree

I agree, I love chocolate pie and chase it to the ends of the earth. 

In all seriousness, HEMS pilots are underpaid, always have been and will continue to be. I am a retired executive, was making over $225k when I retired, fly HEMS for fun but still get frustrated at pay. Been flying since 1980 and will keep grinding as long as doc signs medical.  Realistic starting pay should be about $135k, topping at $195ish, especially when you look at responsibilities and other Part 135 operations. Will not happen though, too many will work for less, like me, for fun. Operators will keep pinching pennys for profit, and government will keep a lid on costs/payments. This insdistry is not a good gig for primary income. 

135 ops, both fixed wing and rotor, none of them would come close to those numbers if you ever wanted more than few days off during the year.

https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/09/career-ambition-advice-data/671374/