How much do helicopter pilots earn?
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 149
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From: North of the Border
How much are we worth?
There are plenty of topics on how much pilots earn, but how much should we earn?
OK there is a lot of discussion about what sort of pilot is most skilled. In my opinion (right or wrong) VIP transport, EMS, police, offshore, fire fighting, load lifting, SAR etc all have specialist skills and you cant say one justifies higher basic pay than another.
SO,
where in the following list should helicopter pilots be:
I know it is a bit simplistic and the order of the list could be debated, but it is the best I could come up with that would be reasonably international.
As for me - I reckon we should be around the journalist - civil engineer mark
COD
OK there is a lot of discussion about what sort of pilot is most skilled. In my opinion (right or wrong) VIP transport, EMS, police, offshore, fire fighting, load lifting, SAR etc all have specialist skills and you cant say one justifies higher basic pay than another.
SO,
where in the following list should helicopter pilots be:
- Lawyer
- Surgeon
- Accountant
- Architect
- Civil Engineer
- Journalist
- Plumber
- Teacher
- Nurse
- Bus driver
- Garbage collector
- Macdonalds "Have a nice day" Operative
I know it is a bit simplistic and the order of the list could be debated, but it is the best I could come up with that would be reasonably international.
As for me - I reckon we should be around the journalist - civil engineer mark
COD
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 579
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From: Canada
Your list is missing professonal athlete.
Because we have to maintain such a high level of fitness, I like to compare us to finely tuned athletes. Flying like sports is entertaining, therefore on the list we should be right below pro athlete.
P.S. Pro Athlete should be at the top.
Because we have to maintain such a high level of fitness, I like to compare us to finely tuned athletes. Flying like sports is entertaining, therefore on the list we should be right below pro athlete.
P.S. Pro Athlete should be at the top.
Iconoclast
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,132
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From: The home of Dudley Dooright-Where the lead dog is the only one that gets a change of scenery.
Garbage collector
Depending on where you live, Garbage Collector would be in the middle of your list if not higher.
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 573
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From: uk
The question should be asked:-
'What do you want your pilot to do?
Answers.
1. Get me/us from here to there with the utmost safety
2. If anything goes not according to plan then handle the
situation in all respects to knowledge and training.
3. Be a clairvoyant, anticipate my needs even if I havent thought
of them yet.
4. Be not only a first class aviator/ meteorologist/ firstaider/
engineer/ caterer, but also understand every business
strategy and financial plot.
5. Be able to adjust without complaint to every change in the
schedule, in fact have planned ahead for the unknown.
6. Be willing to wait an unknown amount of time and or turn up
well ahead of time.
7. Be constantly updating and retraining.
8. Be knowledgeable in aviation law and the unfair practices of
lawyers and judges.
9. And many other abilities, such as accepting a salary less than
ones worth.
10. It is the market that determins salary rates, so too many
pilots spoil the broth.
To sum up.
Pilots are expected to be all things to all people, to carry the can when things don't go to plan and to save lives in such circumstances. Flying is inherantly risky. HSE will eventually close aviation down as unsafe due to duty of care.
So the salary should be certainly more than lawyers, about on par with doctors. But on the other hand perhaps as drivers should get bus drivers salaries.
Basically I feel that Airline pilots get too much and the rest of the market too little.
'What do you want your pilot to do?
Answers.
1. Get me/us from here to there with the utmost safety
2. If anything goes not according to plan then handle the
situation in all respects to knowledge and training.
3. Be a clairvoyant, anticipate my needs even if I havent thought
of them yet.
4. Be not only a first class aviator/ meteorologist/ firstaider/
engineer/ caterer, but also understand every business
strategy and financial plot.
5. Be able to adjust without complaint to every change in the
schedule, in fact have planned ahead for the unknown.
6. Be willing to wait an unknown amount of time and or turn up
well ahead of time.
7. Be constantly updating and retraining.
8. Be knowledgeable in aviation law and the unfair practices of
lawyers and judges.
9. And many other abilities, such as accepting a salary less than
ones worth.
10. It is the market that determins salary rates, so too many
pilots spoil the broth.
To sum up.
Pilots are expected to be all things to all people, to carry the can when things don't go to plan and to save lives in such circumstances. Flying is inherantly risky. HSE will eventually close aviation down as unsafe due to duty of care.
So the salary should be certainly more than lawyers, about on par with doctors. But on the other hand perhaps as drivers should get bus drivers salaries.
Basically I feel that Airline pilots get too much and the rest of the market too little.
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 133
Likes: 0
From: Between layers
Placement on the list by risk assesment !
Simply put, how many people will die, if you don't do your job properly. Responsibility is the keyword here.
Fair enough ?
Guess the lowest on the list would be a pathologist !
Simply put, how many people will die, if you don't do your job properly. Responsibility is the keyword here.
Fair enough ?
Guess the lowest on the list would be a pathologist !
Gatvol
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 4,197
Likes: 1
From: KLAS/TIST/FAJS/KFAI
Seems to be a question that is continually bantered around. I guess the answer is what you, as an individual, make of the job. Some are Executive VIP Pilots in suits and never get mud on the pedals as they go from Ritz to Ritz. Others are living in the bush slinging their own fuel from spot to spot in crap weather. as "Helicopter Pilots" the jobs hold a variety of "status" positions from the high end to the low.
I have been fortunate in that I never had to depend on this work for a career, so any work I do is extra change. Many I know have to work until death or loss of medical as they have no retirement plans or fund and pay is so low they live from check to check in someone elses Mobile Home. I sympathize but as most say "they love to fly" so its their choice. Another funny thing for tour pilots is people think its demeaning to receive tips. The cab drivers get tips, the waitress gets tips, so why not the helicopter pilot?? I certainly thought it was strange on my first charter. The guy handed me a twenty like ....here boy, thanks.....I almost gave it back. I guess its like being a whore, it gets easier after the first one.....
Strange group, us Helicopter Pilots......I wouldnt trade it either...
I have been fortunate in that I never had to depend on this work for a career, so any work I do is extra change. Many I know have to work until death or loss of medical as they have no retirement plans or fund and pay is so low they live from check to check in someone elses Mobile Home. I sympathize but as most say "they love to fly" so its their choice. Another funny thing for tour pilots is people think its demeaning to receive tips. The cab drivers get tips, the waitress gets tips, so why not the helicopter pilot?? I certainly thought it was strange on my first charter. The guy handed me a twenty like ....here boy, thanks.....I almost gave it back. I guess its like being a whore, it gets easier after the first one.....
Strange group, us Helicopter Pilots......I wouldnt trade it either...
Joined: Sep 2002
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,722
Likes: 637
From: Great South East, tired and retired
Hope you got plenty of beer and potato chips, you could be fishing for a long time. Even though this is anonymous, not many people earning big bux will admit to it. You might be the IRS...
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,670
Likes: 1
From: UK
I'd wager a guess:
Offshore UK: Heard last month that a couple of the highest paid Captains cracked the £100,000 barrier after everything taken into account.
Onshore Uk: Again, a guess: either the chief pilot of a large service provider, coming in at around £58 - 60,000, or one of the corporate pilots (short lived, though!)
I won't include the flight ops inspectors because they aren't real pilots any more (£60,000+)
Any takers?
Offshore UK: Heard last month that a couple of the highest paid Captains cracked the £100,000 barrier after everything taken into account.
Onshore Uk: Again, a guess: either the chief pilot of a large service provider, coming in at around £58 - 60,000, or one of the corporate pilots (short lived, though!)
I won't include the flight ops inspectors because they aren't real pilots any more (£60,000+)
Any takers?
Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
From: at the edge
100,000 per year huh? I presume that is Pounds Sterling?
No wonder there are redundancies on the North Sea. Those kind of wage rates are not sustainable in the current market when other parts of the world are only paying $40,000 (dollars) and some even less.
Some of the big companies are actively trying to reduce their wage costs by using pilots of different nationalities, especially in Nigeria. All individual contracts with different pay rates. Check out the pay in the Middle East for Gulf Helicopters (anyone enlighten us??) I understand that their pay rates are low and that you only get paid for your 6 weeks on duty and nothing for time off???
I think (I don't necessarliy like it) that helicopter pilot wages have peaked for this business cycle and that pressure for the next couple of years will be down rather than up.
LE
No wonder there are redundancies on the North Sea. Those kind of wage rates are not sustainable in the current market when other parts of the world are only paying $40,000 (dollars) and some even less.
Some of the big companies are actively trying to reduce their wage costs by using pilots of different nationalities, especially in Nigeria. All individual contracts with different pay rates. Check out the pay in the Middle East for Gulf Helicopters (anyone enlighten us??) I understand that their pay rates are low and that you only get paid for your 6 weeks on duty and nothing for time off???
I think (I don't necessarliy like it) that helicopter pilot wages have peaked for this business cycle and that pressure for the next couple of years will be down rather than up.
LE
Joined: Oct 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 7,373
Likes: 931
From: Den Haag
The key is not what the pay is but where you spend it!
I agree the highest numbers are probably in the UK N. Sea, though I seem to recall the Norwegians were on fairly high salaries too, but the actual quality of life/standard of living may well be lower than others on lower salaries elswhere.
I'm sure a Canadian or American offshore captain on 60-80,000 dollars enjoys a much higher standard of living than his UK counterpart on 60-80,000 pounds. Same for the Australians. Easy to refute, but those who have seen both sides will generally acknowledge it to be true.
I would guess the highest paid in real terms are those working for the large international operators, on Sterling or US dollar salaries overseas, tax free, but living in countries with low costs of living e.g. S. Aficans, Australians etc. Certainly from what I observe around me, they seem to be doing pretty well!
I agree the highest numbers are probably in the UK N. Sea, though I seem to recall the Norwegians were on fairly high salaries too, but the actual quality of life/standard of living may well be lower than others on lower salaries elswhere.
I'm sure a Canadian or American offshore captain on 60-80,000 dollars enjoys a much higher standard of living than his UK counterpart on 60-80,000 pounds. Same for the Australians. Easy to refute, but those who have seen both sides will generally acknowledge it to be true.
I would guess the highest paid in real terms are those working for the large international operators, on Sterling or US dollar salaries overseas, tax free, but living in countries with low costs of living e.g. S. Aficans, Australians etc. Certainly from what I observe around me, they seem to be doing pretty well!
Joined: Sep 1998
Posts: 154
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From: at the edge
ATN
Thanks for the confirmation, that's what I had heard recently.
212 Man
I agreee that the standard of living for an Aussie or Canadian pilot working internationally earning US$ is probably about as good as it gets in this industry.
Are you seeing increased use of differing groups of pilots in Nigeria these days? Maybe not so much in the Bristow side of things but I have heard that the Airlog Pan African contract in Escravos is a real mix of different people from all over?
LE
Thanks for the confirmation, that's what I had heard recently.
212 Man
I agreee that the standard of living for an Aussie or Canadian pilot working internationally earning US$ is probably about as good as it gets in this industry.
Are you seeing increased use of differing groups of pilots in Nigeria these days? Maybe not so much in the Bristow side of things but I have heard that the Airlog Pan African contract in Escravos is a real mix of different people from all over?
LE
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
From: UKdom
salary/lifestyle/extras/living cost/job demands and of course TAX all bear on what you earn from a job.
I believe its about £40k in saudi, but its tax free and you get a accomodation on a compound.
Aberdeen is a cold wet place, british tax is stupidly high, and aberdeen is an expensive place.
I believe its about £40k in saudi, but its tax free and you get a accomodation on a compound.
Aberdeen is a cold wet place, british tax is stupidly high, and aberdeen is an expensive place.
Guest
Posts: n/a
The highest UK North Sea salaries are approximately £77k but only for those captains who have been in their respective companies for 25+ years. Not many of them left now. I would guess that the average basic salary at the moment for North Sea captains is about £60-70k, and for co-pilots about £40-50k.
As for £100k+? This was a rumour going around a few months back, I believe based on what was thought to be the salaries for pilots on the Jigsaw SAR Project. I understand, though, that this wasn't the case. However, I guess if the contract goes ahead, then the basic salaries would be the same as any of the other North Sea pilots, plus whatever is agreed for the daily allowance for spending half of your life offshore! There were rumours of £140 per day before tax (£84 after tax assuming that you pay 40% tax), and that it would be paid to both aircrew and engineers on the contract.
Only time will tell when whoever wins the contract decides what it will give its personnel (and I bet it wont be the full allowance that the oil company pays!!)
As for £100k+? This was a rumour going around a few months back, I believe based on what was thought to be the salaries for pilots on the Jigsaw SAR Project. I understand, though, that this wasn't the case. However, I guess if the contract goes ahead, then the basic salaries would be the same as any of the other North Sea pilots, plus whatever is agreed for the daily allowance for spending half of your life offshore! There were rumours of £140 per day before tax (£84 after tax assuming that you pay 40% tax), and that it would be paid to both aircrew and engineers on the contract.
Only time will tell when whoever wins the contract decides what it will give its personnel (and I bet it wont be the full allowance that the oil company pays!!)
Joined: Oct 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 7,373
Likes: 931
From: Den Haag
Leading edge,
yes there is more diversity than previously, I would say. We have more Australians, Malaysians and Indonesians, plus a few S. Americans too. Lots of S. Africans with Pan African.
Not sure who are the best off in real terms, again it depends on your situation; school fees/mortgage, unmarried/no mortgage etc. The Aussies are on about 120,000 AusDoll tax free which must be pretty comfortable!
yes there is more diversity than previously, I would say. We have more Australians, Malaysians and Indonesians, plus a few S. Americans too. Lots of S. Africans with Pan African.
Not sure who are the best off in real terms, again it depends on your situation; school fees/mortgage, unmarried/no mortgage etc. The Aussies are on about 120,000 AusDoll tax free which must be pretty comfortable!
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,670
Likes: 1
From: UK
Let's see if we can get a poll on the best and worst paid jobs.
[Forget conditions of service, life style, etc...pure hard cash!]
Corporate company pilots
public transport
training
commercial
military
police
EMS
Offshore
For starters then, UK Offshore comes in at £80,000. Any advance on this - worldwide?
[Forget conditions of service, life style, etc...pure hard cash!]
Corporate company pilots
public transport
training
commercial
military
police
EMS
Offshore
For starters then, UK Offshore comes in at £80,000. Any advance on this - worldwide?
Joined: Aug 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 4,411
Likes: 83
From: Gold Coast, Australia
Quite agree that straight $ value isn't the be all & end all. Cost of living is far more important, and quality/life style. I'd take an $A80k job living in Oz over a UK80k job living in Aberdeen any day 
Since Ascend Charlie is probably higher paid than most of us in Oz, he's now running for cover....
Since Ascend Charlie is probably higher paid than most of us in Oz, he's now running for cover....