How to hire a helicopter pilot

How to hire a helicopter pilot, step by step

Here's a step-by-step helicopter pilot hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a helicopter pilot job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new helicopter pilot
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a helicopter pilot do?

Post a helicopter pilot job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your helicopter pilot job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a helicopter pilot for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a helicopter pilot to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a helicopter pilot that fits the bill.

   Here's a comparison of helicopter pilot salaries for various roles:

   Type of Helicopter Pilot	Description	Hourly rate
   Helicopter Pilot	Airline and commercial pilots fly and navigate airplanes, helicopters, and other aircraft. Airline pilots fly for airlines that transport people and cargo on a fixed schedule... Show more	$29-61
   Aviator	An aviator, also known as a pilot, operates aircraft for commercial or private use. Although their duties vary upon their company or industry of employment, it usually entails performing regular inspections before and after every flight, coordinating with staff, maintaining an active communication line with air traffic controller, determining routes and schedules, analyzing flight plans, and monitoring the weather conditions... Show more	$36-58
   Pilot Instructor	The key role of a Pilot Instructor is to teach students procedures and techniques about how to fly aircraft. They offer instruction for both on the ground and in the sky, prepare lesson plans, and assess and monitor students performance.	$28-63

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • FAA
   • PIC
   • Pilot-In-Command
   • IFR
   • Combat
   • Helicopter Operations
   • Patrol
   • DOD
   • Safety Program
   • Mission Planning
   • EMS
   • Flight Training
   • Flight Operations
   • Aircraft Systems

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Serve as a professional pilot managing a flight crew and ensuring safe transportation of VIP's internationally.
   • Train in robinson r22 and r44
   • Ensure compliance with all OSHA and EPA regulations.
   • Operate in IFR and marginal weather conditions between multiple states.
   • Maintain program compliance with OSHA, DOD, and other local agencies as required by regulations.
   • Ferry and sightseeing flights done at request of management in accordance with 14 CFR part 91.

   More helicopter pilot duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your helicopter pilot job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A helicopter pilot salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, helicopter pilots' average salary in minnesota is 49% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level helicopter pilots earn 52% less than senior-level helicopter pilots.
   • Certifications. A helicopter pilot with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a helicopter pilot's salary.

   Average helicopter pilot salary

   $89,418yearly

   $42.99 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level helicopter pilot salary

   $62,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average helicopter pilot salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$133,727	$64
   2	California	$133,076	$64
   3	California	$132,562	$64
   4	California	$132,561	$64
   5	California	$132,410	$64
   6	California	$132,338	$64
   7	California	$132,134	$64
   8	California	$132,069	$63
   9	California	$132,029	$63
   10	California	$132,025	$63
   11	California	$131,902	$63
   12	California	$131,581	$63
   13	California	$129,483	$62
   14	California	$127,594	$61
   15	California	$119,695	$58
   16	California	$119,468	$57
   17	California	$119,427	$57
   18	California	$119,184	$57
   19	California	$118,551	$57
   20	California	$118,445	$57

   Average helicopter pilot salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Brainerd Chemical Co	$102,816	$49.43
   2	Air Methods	$88,809	$42.70	173
   3	RLC Enterprises Inc	$85,252	$40.99
   4	Metro Aviation	$82,893	$39.85

4. Writing a helicopter pilot job description

   A good helicopter pilot job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a helicopter pilot job description:

   Helicopter pilot job description example

   We invite you to join a team of highly skilled emergency medical experts, pilots and mechanics!
   Our mission of providing care to the world at a moment's notice is at the heart of everything we do. We are caregivers, first and foremost, and we will be there when you need us.
   
   PILOT INCENTIVES
   
   Depending on current specific base needs, new hire line pilots could be eligible to receive:
   

   • Starting base salary $82,000 to $90,200, depending on experience
   • 2% to 30% geographic modifier for assigned base, depending on location
   • $15,000 sign-on bonus and $40,000 retention bonus, all locations
   • 7/7 or 14/14 schedule, depending on location
   • 24-hour base housing, provided at all locations

   
   
   JOB SUMMARY
   
   Ensures all operations involving Company aircraft are in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations, Air Evac EMS Operations Manual, and all state and municipal regulations.
   
   

   • Operates the aircraft in a safe and efficient manner, with emphasis on compliance with the Rotorcraft Flight Manual
   • Monitors forecast changes and current weather situations
   • Conducts preflight of the aircraft prior to starting shift and/or accepting transports or flights. Preflight will be conducted utilizing the appropriate rotorcraft flight manual. Discrepancies noted during the pre-flight will be noted in the engineering log with a notification to maintenance of the discrepancy and what corrective action is being taken
   • Reports to his/her shift rested and prepared for duty and stays current of weather and forecast changes

   
   
   QUALIFICATIONS
   
   Experience:
   
   2000 hours total flight time
   1500 hours helicopter time
   1000 hours helicopter pilot in command
   500 hours turbine
   100 hours night unaided, or 50 hours unaided with 100 hours aided
   Previous HAA experience or equivalent - preferred
   
   Education and Credentials:
   
   Rotorcraft-Helicopter Commercial Certificate
   Rotorcraft-Helicopter Instrument Rating
   
   High school diploma or equivalent
   
   Other:
   
   230-pound weight limit dressed in flight suit and boots
   
   Global Medical Response teams deliver compassionate, quality medical care, primarily in the areas of emergency and patient relocation services around the world. We provide end-to-end medical transportation as well as fire services, integrated healthcare solutions and disaster response.
   
   EEO Statement:
   Global Medical Response and its family of companies are an Equal Opportunity Employer, which includes supporting veterans and providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with a disability.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find helicopter pilots for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any helicopter pilots they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level helicopter pilots with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your helicopter pilot job on Zippia to find and recruit helicopter pilot candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with helicopter pilot candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new helicopter pilot

   Once you've decided on a perfect helicopter pilot candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a helicopter pilot?