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The differences between helicopter pilots and pilot captains can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a helicopter pilot and a pilot captain. Additionally, a helicopter pilot has an average salary of $89,418, which is higher than the $68,096 average annual salary of a pilot captain.
The top three skills for a helicopter pilot include FAA, PIC and pilot-in-command. The most important skills for a pilot captain are PIC, FAA, and IFR.
| Helicopter Pilot | Pilot Captain | |
| Yearly salary | $89,418 | $68,096 |
| Hourly rate | $42.99 | $32.74 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 4,054 | 5,093 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
A pilot captain is an experienced pilot who is primarily responsible for the flight, passengers, and crew. As the pilot with the highest authority in an aircraft, they are in charge of ensuring that all necessary procedures and safety checks are carried out before, during, and after flights. It is also their duty to conduct weather and flight plan checks, coordinate with air-traffic controllers and airport personnel while working together with co-pilots, and addressing issues and concerns, resolving them promptly and efficiently.
Helicopter pilots and pilot captains have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Helicopter Pilot | Pilot Captain | |
| Average salary | $89,418 | $68,096 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $128,000 | Between $57,000 And $81,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Brainerd Chemical Co | Wiggins Airways |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a helicopter pilot and a pilot captain in terms of educational background:
| Helicopter Pilot | Pilot Captain | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 71% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | SUNY Farmingdale |
Here are the differences between helicopter pilots' and pilot captains' demographics:
| Helicopter Pilot | Pilot Captain | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.5% Female, 5.5% | Male, 92.6% Female, 7.4% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.2% Asian, 2.8% White, 81.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |