Are you paid enough as a helicopter pilot? Check out the Rotor Pro March-April 2026 issue which includes the 2025-2026 Pilot Salary & Benefits Report:
https://bit.ly/RotorProMag_MarApr2026

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 2025-2026 Helicopter Pilot Salary & Benefits Report | ZIL Air Seychelles + VIDEO | Cape Town Helicopters + VIDEO | Is Tech Transforming Pilot Training? | Airbus Helicopters: 2026 Program Update | Executive Watch: Jake Tomlin, CEO, Papillon Helicopters | Meet a Rotor Pro: Cody Bosek | My 2 Cents Worth | Safety Sitrep | Uncrewed Update | Military Matters | Maintenance Minute | Rotorcraft Checkride

Since there are no “standards”, who gets to decide?  Single vs twin, IFR vs VFR, single pilot vs crewed aircraft, type rating and ATP required?  Pretty much at the mercy of whoever is posting an open position.  Owner, operators, are going to pay you the least they can get away with.  Negotiations are optional.  You’re in a “toothless Tiger” industry.  

so what's different with helicopters compared to any other business. like everything else, you have to pay at least as much as everybody else for the experience of the employees you want to employ

but then rattles off experince employers may want, not standards.

lol

So tell me, do you think you should be paid more?  Do you think your employer would voluntarily increase your base pay by let’s say, $12000. annually?  Airlines have structured pay schedules and strong unions to negotiate on the members behalf.  Your industry has no strong union, no collective bargaining power to negotiate for the members.  You have no solidarity.  You will never reach your maximum earning potential until you collectively step up to the plate and be recognized as professionals.  So take your inflated salary survey, put it in a frame, and hang it on your wall for all to see. 

my employer did increase my pay by $12,000 in 2021 but tell me about that standards thing again. do you have any idea what you're talking about because you're all over the place

Med Trans which was mainly an EC135 company now have a few EC145's. They are having a hard time getting pilots checked out in a second airframe as there is no extra pay, for the extra checkrides required etc. Currently they have a shortage of EC145 pilots and open shifts are becoming commomplace. I applaud the pilots for taking a stand on this.

Does your company pay extra to pilots for multiple airframes?

I pick up here and there. Was asked to pick up an extra week recently - paycheck for the 2 weeks was $14k gross. The tax man took a load of it… 

The more u make, the more they take.

1 year anniversary for me being out of the rat race.

Spin that wheel caged rats....chase that cheese for uncle sam to give to octomom and quintuplets+3

you did it too.  Be glad you’re out, and stop being a pecker.

Hey, don't hate the rat.

Hate the wheel.

There are several operators that require you to fly a different back up aircraft and you don't get paid for the extra rides.

no one is every paid enough, or what ‘they’ think theyre worth.  This rotor industry really is funny and lagging the rest of Aviation in terms of pay for what we do.  While the 121 guys certainty earn it with their souls on board responsibilities God forbid something goes wrong, so the we 135 helo guys landing on roof tops and Lord knows where else at all hours of darkness.  Both are generally benign ops normal, but the rotor environment is much more challenging in my opinion and it is unfortunate we arent paid more.  Ive done both.  

Over the years I have accepted that, so I chose to work selectively and my minimums have increased substantially.  I figure if these operators arent willing to pay what we are worth, then I will make the decision NOT to fly in questionable conditions or less than ideal situations.  

The equipment in the Helo world is also far behind what it should be.  Again my opinion.  But, it’s the 21st century for Gawds sake, and at minimum, every 135 helo should have glass panels, SAS and AP.  There is no excuse other than the operators are cheap.  So again, if Im assigned to some underpowered steam gauge junk then Im going to consider NOT going unless perfect weather, and on this NO amount of money will change that.   Operators need to be doing better.  

The old adage of ‘get what you pay for’ and ‘get out of what is put in’ really does apply for this industry unfortunately and until the OOS time becomes unmanageable, not much will change.   

The money in helicopters, particularly ems, is terrible when you consider the risk, the hours and the schedule. Dealing with med crews can be (and usually is) a major drawback of the job. The only way to make any real money is OT but it will burn you out. Ever meet a happy ems pilot? Me neither.

It's me.

I get on here and show you guys how happy I am.

and even getting it will not do much in the controlling your destiny department 

Is $110 base or with geo mod? I thought their top was $96k from the PEW.

a happy EMS pilot.  Sometimes, happier than others.  I love hearing those turbines light off, bringing the needles together, and that first handfull of pitch bringing the machine to life.  Then I realize it’s not the engines whining, but the nurse, and there goes the “happy” moment.

Good luck with that!

I left aviation it was not worth the pay stress and time away from family. I started my own business in a different industry and  my little business makes me more then I could have ever made in aviation, I average about a mil in sales a month and  I am home every night I can provide for my kids in a way I could never in aviation.