Military pilot vs helicopter pilot

The differences between military 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 military pilot and a helicopter pilot. Additionally, a military pilot has an average salary of $100,754, which is higher than the $89,418 average annual salary of a helicopter pilot.

The top three skills for a military pilot include helicopter, logistics and safety. The most important skills for a helicopter pilot are FAA, PIC, and pilot-in-command.

Military pilot vs helicopter pilot overview

	Military Pilot	Helicopter Pilot
Yearly salary	$100,754	$89,418
Hourly rate	$48.44	$42.99
Growth rate	6%	6%
Number of jobs	5,217	4,054
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 77%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Average age	44	44
Years of experience	4	4

Military pilot vs helicopter pilot salary

Military pilots and helicopter pilots have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Military Pilot	Helicopter Pilot
Average salary	$100,754	$89,418
Salary range	Between $73,000 And $137,000	Between $62,000 And $128,000
Highest paying City	-	Santa Rosa, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Brainerd Chemical Co
Best paying industry	-	Transportation

Differences between military pilot and helicopter pilot education

There are a few differences between a military pilot and a helicopter pilot in terms of educational background:

	Military Pilot	Helicopter Pilot
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 77%	Bachelor's Degree, 70%
Most common major	Aviation	Aviation
Most common college	Stanford University	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Military pilot vs helicopter pilot demographics

Here are the differences between military pilots' and helicopter pilots' demographics:

	Military Pilot	Helicopter Pilot
Average age	44	44
Gender ratio	Male, 92.3% Female, 7.7%	Male, 94.5% Female, 5.5%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.9% Asian, 2.7% White, 82.0% 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%

Differences between military pilot and helicopter pilot duties and responsibilities

Military pilot example responsibilities.

Serve as a professional pilot managing a flight crew and ensuring safe transportation of VIP's internationally.
Assist with all aspects of administration, logistics and equipment inventory, ensuring successful financial execution.
Qualify in helicopters, multi-engine transports and various training aircraft.
Coordinate with AATD and USMA to assist with visits to the UK.

Helicopter pilot example 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.

Military pilot vs helicopter pilot skills

Common military pilot skills

Helicopter, 73%
Logistics, 14%
Safety, 14%

Common helicopter pilot skills

FAA, 18%
PIC, 18%
Pilot-In-Command, 17%
IFR, 7%
Combat, 6%
Helicopter Operations, 5%

Military Pilot vs. similar jobs

Military Pilot related careers

Military Pilot related jobs

What similar roles do

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Transportation Industry
Military Pilot
Military Pilot vs Helicopter Pilot

Updated January 8, 2025

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