Hey all, thanks in advance for any helpful responses. I’m a retired army guy currently working at Rucker post-retirement. Job is solid, but starting to get boring. I make decent money (about $150k) but no real opportunity for more (no real OT, raises are annual but not much). I’m seeing recruiters all over social media throwing out crazy numbers for HEMS (HAA?) jobs. $110k bonuses, $200k compensation packages, etc. 

I’d be interested in the possibility of being a float pilot. I’ve talked to a few and they’ve laid out the pros and cons. My question is are you guys really seeing this level of money? I know there is a shortage, but I’m kind of in a bubble here and just trying to see if folks out there are making the kind of Cash the recruiters are broadcasting. Thanks and fly safe!

110k bonus and 200k packages. LMFAO. You are an idiot. Stay at Rucker, and you don't make that much there either. 

Sorry you don’t make much money ??. Acting like 150 is some outrage amount in 2026. Stay poor, loser. 

Making about $175K but add $40K this year for bonus which was paid out in Feb '26.

7on/7off with a travel day on both ends pays about $135 but there is as much OT as you can take if you want to work more. I'm at the end of my career so working my butt of for two more years before I hang up my helmet.

Base pay is about $110K

If you work and extra day you get $600 bonus at the moment (usually $300), on top of hourl X 1.5. 

So at $45 per hour + $600 its over$1400 per day.

All travel covered and per diem of $50 a day, but travel days are at straight pay :-(

Good Luck with your search.

Air Evac Lifeteam has a National Float Pilot position (renamed Strike Team) which works a 14/14 schedule. Base starts between $88-96k with 15% geo mod. Its an hourly pay system and anything over 40 hours a week pays 1.5x. This includes travel. So if you work the whole year on your 14/14 schedule you'll have 646 of baked in O/T at 1.5x. Each day on hitch incl. travel days pays $50 per diem. Travel expenses as soon as you leave home are paid too, taxis/parking/mileage/airfare/hotel/rental cars. So you're basically looking at $155-175k for all of this. Don't forget the bonus though, $15k sign-on bonus paid on successful completion of your checkride and a $40k retention bonus paid out after 3 years. The $40k retention bonus will actually be more because any O/T performed during those 3 years will be molded into it. 

Don't forget that you live in the lowest cost of living area in the country. Also, the civilian world has a different mind-set, you may not like it.

Gotta go with that one…..10 years of EMS and finally threw in the towel.  Working nights turns you into a zombie.