Salary ranges by certificate/ratings
Pilots who hold an ATP not only have a $20,000 to $30,000 per year higher gross median salary than those who do not, but a larger percentage of them make up the higher income brackets. Three factors may influence the higher earnings for ATP certificate holders:
1. Many employers pay an ATP bonus. 2. Higher paying jobs generally require an ATP as a prerequisite for being hired.
3. Pilots may have more tenure as a working pilot prior to obtaining the ATP.
Gross salary ranges by sector Sector
Low Training tours multi-type flying ag/spraying <50K (43%) <50K (29%) 100-110K (25%) 70-80K (20%) helicopter air ambulance 80-90K (2%) law enforcement firefighting utility/lifting offshore oil support corporate 70-80K (9%) 70-80K (5%) 90-100K (5%) 80-90K (14%) 90-100K (5%) median 110-130K (19%) 110-130K (7%) 150-175K (13%) 110-130K (20%) 110-130K (27%) 110-130K (9%) 110-130K (11%) 110-130K(17%) 130-150K (21%) 130-150K (11%)
high >200K (5%) >200K (7%) >200K (38%) 150-175K (40%) >200K (12%) 175-200K (9%) >200K (11%) >200K (34%) >200K (7%) >200K (32%)
INSIGHT: If you want the best chance of reaching a salary of $200,000 or higher as a helicopter pilot, your best opportunities are in the sectors of utility/lifting, ag/ spraying, multi-mission ops, and corporate flying.
Gross salary ranges by years experience working as helicopter pilot years
Low 0 - 5 Years 6 - 10 Years 11 - 15 Years 16 - 20 Years 21 - 25 Years 26 - 30 Years 30+ Years 58 <50K (33%) <50K (7%) 90-100K (10%) 100-110K (6%) 100-110K (9%) 110-130K (26%) 110-130K (18%) Mar/Apr 2026 median 90-110K (9%) 110-130K (32%) 130-150K (19%) 150-175K (26%) 150-175K (18%) 150-175K (13%) 150-175K (18%) high 150-175K (2%) >200K (5%) >200K (9%) >200K (20%) >200K (21%) >200K (26%) >200K (27%)
INSIGHT: When it comes to single-vs. multi-engine helicopters, the sooner you can get into multi- engines, the sooner you’ll make more money. Only 11% of all single-engine pilots reached the top salary ranges, compared to 20% of their multi- engine pilot counterparts.
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