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The differences between helicopter pilots and test 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 helicopter pilot and a test pilot. Additionally, a test pilot has an average salary of $96,060, which is higher than the $89,418 average annual salary of a helicopter pilot.
The top three skills for a helicopter pilot include FAA, PIC and pilot-in-command. The most important skills for a test pilot are FAA, pilot-in-command, and aircraft maintenance.
| Helicopter Pilot | Test Pilot | |
| Yearly salary | $89,418 | $96,060 |
| Hourly rate | $42.99 | $46.18 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 4,054 | 20,665 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| 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 test pilot operates and evaluates aircraft to determine its quality and safety. Their responsibilities include gathering and analyzing aircraft data and specifications, assessing the aircraft's features, documenting every procedure, and making a list of recommendations to improve the aircraft's overall quality and performance. They may also evaluate various instruments and systems, performing maintenance checks as necessary. Being a test pilot requires expertise and skills, which is my most test pilots are employed under government agencies and have undergone special training.
Helicopter pilots and test pilots have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Helicopter Pilot | Test Pilot | |
| Average salary | $89,418 | $96,060 |
| Salary range | Between $62,000 And $128,000 | Between $67,000 And $137,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Rosa, CA | Mountain View, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | Brainerd Chemical Co | Learjet |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a helicopter pilot and a test pilot in terms of educational background:
| Helicopter Pilot | Test Pilot | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between helicopter pilots' and test pilots' demographics:
| Helicopter Pilot | Test Pilot | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.5% Female, 5.5% | Male, 91.3% Female, 8.7% |
| 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, 2.8% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 2.8% White, 81.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% |
| LGBT Percentage | 9% | 9% |