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The differences between pilot instructors 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 pilot instructor and a helicopter pilot. Additionally, a pilot instructor has an average salary of $90,143, which is higher than the $89,418 average annual salary of a helicopter pilot.
The top three skills for a pilot instructor include FAA, simulator and instructor pilot. The most important skills for a helicopter pilot are FAA, PIC, and pilot-in-command.
| Pilot Instructor | Helicopter Pilot | |
| Yearly salary | $90,143 | $89,418 |
| Hourly rate | $43.34 | $42.99 |
| Growth rate | 6% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 26,978 | 4,054 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
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.
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.
Pilot instructors and helicopter pilots have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Pilot Instructor | Helicopter Pilot | |
| Average salary | $90,143 | $89,418 |
| Salary range | Between $60,000 And $133,000 | Between $62,000 And $128,000 |
| Highest paying City | Trenton, NJ | Santa Rosa, CA |
| Highest paying state | California | California |
| Best paying company | OBXtek | Brainerd Chemical Co |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a pilot instructor and a helicopter pilot in terms of educational background:
| Pilot Instructor | Helicopter Pilot | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 70% | Bachelor's Degree, 70% |
| Most common major | Aviation | Aviation |
| Most common college | SUNY Farmingdale | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign |
Here are the differences between pilot instructors' and helicopter pilots' demographics:
| Pilot Instructor | Helicopter Pilot | |
| Average age | 44 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.5% Female, 6.5% | Male, 94.5% Female, 5.5% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.1% Asian, 2.8% White, 81.6% 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% |