Helicopter Pilot - Pay and progression
Kaiwhakarere Toparere
Pay
At entry level, helicopter pilots typically earn between $20,000 and $40,000 a year.
Some employers may take a portion of pay to assist with training expenses. Other employers may require a bond from newly qualified pilots in exchange for on-the-job training and assistance getting qualifications or ratings to fly specific aircraft. The pilot may be required to work for the employer for a certain amount of time before receiving the bond money back.
Helicopter pilots with three to five years' experience can expect to earn $30,000 to $70,000.
At senior level, they may earn $70,000 or more if qualified to fly multi-engine aircraft and IFR qualified (able to fly using only navigational instruments and radios).
"The salary depends on your experience and what ratings you have. If we had to train somebody on the helicopter it would cost us $20,000 to $30,000 to get them up to speed, so we might knock that off their salary for the first year or two."
Grant Withers - Rescue Helicopter Pilot
According to the 2006 Census, helicopter pilots earned an average of $56,200 a year and worked an average of 49 hours per week. This includes full and part-time workers.
This information is provided as a guide only
Career Progression
Helicopter pilots often start on a part-time on-call basis, and then gain permanent positions with companies.
With three to five years' experience, helicopter pilots typically learn to fly different types of aircraft and gain additional ratings. They often combine flying with ground duties such as administration, recruitment or training.
They may also start their own businesses in industries such as tourism and agriculture. Or they may get their instructor ratings to work as flying instructors.
Updated
August 2008
