Rotor Wing Pilot Salary in the United States

How much does a Rotor Wing Pilot make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Rotor Wing Pilot in the United States is $94,680 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $46.

However, a Rotor Wing Pilot's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $139,161
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $90,751 to $117,963
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $87,174
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View as table View as graph 25% $90,751 10% $87,174 90% $139,161 75% $117,963 $94,680 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Rotor Wing Pilot Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary		 Monthly
Pay		 Weekly
Pay		 Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $117,963 $9,830 $2,269 $57
Average $94,680 $7,890 $1,821 $46
25th Percentile $90,751 $7,563 $1,745 $44
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Key Factors That Influence Rotor Wing Pilot Salaries

A Rotor Wing Pilot's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Rotor Wing Pilot Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Rotor Wing Pilot's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $92,169
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $92,350
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $92,605
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $93,653
  • Expert (over 8 years): $100,501
Levels Salary
Entry Level Rotor Wing Pilot$92,169
Intermediate Level Rotor Wing Pilot$92,350
Senior Level Rotor Wing Pilot$92,605
Specialist Level Rotor Wing Pilot$93,653
Expert Level Rotor Wing Pilot$100,501
$92,169 0 yr
$92,350 < 2 yrs
$92,605 2-4 yrs
$93,653 5-8 yrs
$100,501 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Rotor Wing Pilot Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Rotor Wing Pilots. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $104,830.
  • California: $104,432.
  • Massachusetts: $103,040.

Top Paying Cities for Rotor Wing Pilots

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $119,420
  • San Francisco: $118,113
  • Oakland: $115,623

What Skills Can Increase a Rotor Wing Pilot's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Communicates Effectively (Mentioned in 30.59% Job Postings): Effective communication is the process of exchanging ideas, thoughts, opinions, knowledge, and data so that the message is received and understood with clarity and purpose.
  • Aviation (Mentioned in 4.71% Job Postings): Aviation is the activities surrounding mechanical flight and the aircraft industry. Aircraft includes fixed-wing and rotary-wing types, morphable wings, wing-less lifting bodies, as well as lighter-than-air craft such as hot air balloons and airships.
  • Safety Inspections (Mentioned in 1.18% Job Postings): Identifying, assessing, and monitoring hazardous conditions to recommend corrective actions and prevent future incidents.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Communicates Effectively 30.59%
Aviation 4.71%
Safety Inspections 1.18%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Rotor Wing Pilot's salary.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Standard Operating Procedures: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management
 $102,255
8%
Standard Operating Procedures
 $102,255
8%
Collaboration
 $99,414
5%
Safety Standards
 $99,414
5%
Flight Operations
 $99,414
5%
Coordination
 $98,467
4%
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How Education impacts a Rotor Wing Pilot's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Rotor Wing Pilots enter the field with a No Diploma degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Rotor Wing Pilot with a No Diploma is between $96,101 and $105,581).

Rotor Wing Pilot Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Rotor Wing Pilot
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.6%
High School 26.7%
Associates 11.4%
Bachelors 48.9%
Masters 10.8%
Doctorate 1.7%
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Rotor Wing Pilot Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Rotor Wing Pilot's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

  • Hourly
  • Monthly
  • Weekly
  • Yearly
  • Table View
Last Updated on May 01, 2026
$90,751
Average $94,680/year
$117,963
$7,563
Average $7,890/month
$9,830
$1,745
Average $1,821/week
$2,269
$44
Average $46/hour
$57
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $117,963 $9,830 $2,269 $57
Average $94,680 $7,890 $1,821 $46
25th Percentile $90,751 $7,563 $1,745 $44

Salaries of jobs related to Rotor Wing Pilot

Salary Trends for Rotor Wing Pilot

Salaries for a Rotor Wing Pilot can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $75,700 in 2023 to around $65,944 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Rotor Wing Pilot salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Rotor Wing Pilot Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$75,700
2024
$69,203
2025
$65,944
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $75,700
2024 $69,203
2025 $65,944
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Rotor Wing Pilot

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

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