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The differences between chief pilots and helicopter pilots can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a chief pilot and a helicopter pilot. Additionally, a helicopter pilot has an average salary of $89,418, which is higher than the $86,920 average annual salary of a chief pilot.
The top three skills for a chief pilot include flight operations, pilot-in-command and PIC. The most important skills for a helicopter pilot are FAA, PIC, and pilot-in-command.
| Chief Pilot | Helicopter Pilot | |
| Yearly salary | $86,920 | $89,418 |
| Hourly rate | $41.79 | $42.99 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 16,638 | 4,054 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
A Chief Pilot assigns and oversees the duties of flight and ground personnel. They ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations, including federal aviation regulations.
A helicopter pilot is responsible for operating a helicopter engine to transport people and materials from one place to another. Helicopter pilots usually work in industrial and government settings, assisting with rescue operations, medical deliveries, and gathering aerial video and photos for data purposes. They inspect the condition of aircraft controls and components, ensuring its safety and efficiency during operations to avoid hazards and delays. A helicopter pilot determines flight plans with utmost consideration with weather forecasts and aircraft stability.
Chief pilots and helicopter pilots have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Chief Pilot | Helicopter Pilot | |
| Average salary | $86,920 | $89,418 |
| Salary range | Between $59,000 And $126,000 | Between $62,000 And $128,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | NetJets | Brainerd Chemical Co |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a chief pilot and a helicopter pilot in terms of educational background:
| Chief Pilot | Helicopter Pilot | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 68% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
Here are the differences between chief pilots' and helicopter pilots' demographics:
| Chief Pilot | Helicopter Pilot | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.6% Female, 4.4% | Male, 94.5% Female, 5.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.0% Asian, 2.7% White, 81.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.8% Asian, 2.7% White, 82.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |