Helicopter pilot demographics and statistics in the US
Helicopter pilot demographics research summary. Zippia estimates helicopter pilot demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our helicopter pilot estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about helicopter pilots after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 4,945 helicopter pilots currently employed in the United States.
- 5.5% of all helicopter pilots are women, while 94.5% are men.
- The average helicopter pilot age is 44 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of helicopter pilots is White (82.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (6.8%), Unknown (5.5%) and Asian (2.7%).
- In 2022, women earned 94% of what men earned.
- 9% of all helicopter pilots are LGBT.
- Helicopter pilots are 59% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to government companies.
On this page
Helicopter pilot demographics by:
Helicopter pilot gender statistics
5.5% of helicopter pilots are women and 94.5% of helicopter pilots are men.
- Male, 94.5%
- Female, 5.5%
Helicopter pilot gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 94.5% |
| Female | 5.5% |
Helicopter pilot gender pay gap
Women earn 94¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$84,089
Female income
$78,816
Helicopter pilot gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in helicopter pilot positions over time. Currently, 5.5% of helicopter pilots are female.
Helicopter pilot gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 95.54% | 4.46% |
| 2011 | 97.15% | 2.85% |
| 2012 | 94.40% | 5.60% |
| 2013 | 96.21% | 3.79% |
| 2014 | 95.68% | 4.32% |
| 2015 | 96.20% | 3.80% |
| 2016 | 94.00% | 6.00% |
| 2017 | 94.44% | 5.56% |
| 2018 | 94.42% | 5.58% |
| 2019 | 95.39% | 4.61% |
| 2020 | 94.77% | 5.23% |
| 2021 | 94.45% | 5.55% |
Helicopter pilot related jobs gender ratio
We compared helicopter pilots with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, airline transport pilot and combat control have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Flight Attendant | 16% | 84% |
| International Flight Attendant | 21% | 79% |
| Flight Attendant | 21% | 79% |
| Helicopter Pilot | 94% | 6% |
| Agricultural Aviation Pilot | 98% | 2% |
| Combat Control | 98% | 2% |
| Airline Transport Pilot | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Helicopter pilot demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among helicopter pilots is White, which makes up 82.0% of all helicopter pilots. Comparatively, 6.8% of helicopter pilots are Hispanic or Latino and 5.5% of helicopter pilots are Unknown.
- White, 82.0%
- Hispanic or Latino, 6.8%
- Unknown, 5.5%
- Asian, 2.7%
- Black or African American, 2.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
Helicopter pilot race
| Helicopter pilot race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 82.0% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 6.8% |
| Unknown | 5.5% |
| Asian | 2.7% |
| Black or African American | 2.6% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.4% |
Helicopter pilot race and ethnicity over time
See how helicopter pilot racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Helicopter pilot race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 88.03% | 2.21% | 1.38% | 5.96% |
| 2011 | 89.31% | 2.15% | 1.01% | 5.44% |
| 2012 | 88.51% | 2.74% | 1.54% | 5.31% |
| 2013 | 87.65% | 2.18% | 1.79% | 5.83% |
| 2014 | 88.25% | 2.37% | 1.57% | 5.57% |
| 2015 | 87.65% | 2.05% | 1.72% | 6.16% |
| 2016 | 86.93% | 1.79% | 1.63% | 6.54% |
| 2017 | 87.56% | 2.89% | 1.87% | 5.63% |
| 2018 | 85.85% | 2.07% | 1.95% | 7.17% |
| 2019 | 86.78% | 1.60% | 2.18% | 6.78% |
| 2020 | 83.20% | 2.45% | 2.77% | 7.14% |
| 2021 | 82.02% | 2.64% | 2.73% | 6.84% |
Helicopter pilot wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown helicopter pilots have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian helicopter pilots have the lowest average salary at $73,982.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $90,784 |
| White | $88,658 |
| Black or African American | $85,470 |
| Asian | $73,982 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $82,612 |
Average helicopter pilot age
See how the average age of helicopter pilots varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Helicopter pilot age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown | 46 | |
| White | 44 | 40 |
| Black or African American | 46.5 | |
| Asian | 34 | |
| Hispanic or Latino | 44 |
Helicopter pilot age breakdown
The average age of helicopter pilots is 40+ years years old, representing 61% of the helicopter pilot population.
Helicopter pilot age breakdown
| Helicopter Pilot Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 61% |
| 30-40 years | 27% |
| 20-30 years | 11% |
Helicopter pilot educational attainment
The most common degree for helicopter pilots is bachelor's degree, with 70% of helicopter pilots earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 14% and associate degree degree at 10%.
- Bachelor's, 70%
- Associate, 14%
- Master's, 10%
- High School Diploma, 3%
- Other Degrees, 3%
Helicopter pilots by degree level
| Helicopter pilot degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 70% |
| Associate | 14% |
| Master's | 10% |
| High School Diploma | 3% |
| Other Degrees | 3% |
Helicopter pilot jobs you might like
Helicopter pilot wage gap by degree level
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $93,770 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $90,612 |
Helicopter pilot employment statistics
Most helicopter pilots work for a private in the transportation industry.
Company size where helicopter pilots work
Below, you can see the size of companies where helicopter pilots work.
Helicopter pilot jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 7% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 16% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 34% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 24% |
| > 10,000 employees | 12% |
Helicopter pilot jobs by company type
Employees with the helicopter pilot job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most helicopter pilots prefer to work at private companies over government companies.
Helicopter pilot jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 4% |
| Public | 16% |
| Private | 59% |
| Government | 21% |
Helicopter pilot jobs by industry
The most common industries for helicopter pilots are transportation, government and professional.
Helicopter pilot industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Transportation | 19% |
| Government | 18% |
| Professional | 14% |
| Technology | 7% |
| Fortune 500 | 6% |
| Hospitality | 5% |
| Manufacturing | 5% |
| Education | 4% |
| Finance | 4% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Health Care | 3% |
| Construction | 3% |
| Energy | 2% |
| Real Estate | 2% |
| Utilities | 2% |
| Retail | 2% |
| Insurance | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Internet | 1% |
| Automotive | 1% |
Helicopter pilot turnover and employment statistics
Helicopter pilot unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for helicopter pilots between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Helicopter pilot unemployment rate by year
| Year | Helicopter pilot unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 3.56% |
| 2011 | 2.99% |
| 2012 | 2.30% |
| 2013 | 2.29% |
| 2014 | 2.11% |
| 2015 | 1.19% |
| 2016 | 0.95% |
| 2017 | 1.24% |
| 2018 | 0.65% |
| 2019 | 0.93% |
| 2020 | 1.69% |
| 2021 | 2.31% |
Average helicopter pilot tenure
The average helicopter pilot stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 940 helicopter pilots resumes in Zippia's database.
Helicopter pilot tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 10% |
| 1-2 years | 22% |
| 3-4 years | 18% |
| 5-7 years | 21% |
| 8-10 years | 8% |
| 11+ years | 21% |
Helicopter pilot LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of helicopter pilots that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Parking Lot Attendant | 3.71% | 49,080 |
| Detail Technician | 4.91% | 10,951 |
| Feeder | 5.16% | 695 |
| Helicopter Pilot | 8.59% | - |
| Joint Terminal Attack Controller | 13.04% | 15,215 |
| Bus Attendant | 15.05% | 51,391 |
| Flight Attendant/Air Transportation Supervisor | 31.52% | 55,875 |
Similar helicopter pilot jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Parking Lot Attendant | 3.71% | 49,080 |
| Detail Technician | 4.91% | 10,951 |
| Feeder | 5.16% | 695 |
| Joint Terminal Attack Controller | 13.04% | 15,215 |
| Bus Attendant | 15.05% | 51,391 |
| Flight Attendant/Air Transportation Supervisor | 31.52% | 55,875 |
Foreign languages spoken by helicopter pilots
The most common foreign language among helicopter pilots is Spanish at 60.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is German at 15.0% and French is the third-most popular at 10.0%.
- Spanish, 60.0%
- German, 15.0%
- French, 10.0%
- Portuguese, 5.0%
- Arabic, 5.0%
- Other, 5.0%
Helicopter pilot languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 60.0% |
| German | 15.0% |
| French | 10.0% |
| Portuguese | 5.0% |
| Arabic | 5.0% |
| Other | 5.0% |
