How Much Do Helicopter Pilots Earn Compared To Airline Pilots In 2026?

The commonly cited “helicopter pilot pay” figure doesn’t stand up to how U.S. aviation wages are actually reported. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes median pay for airline pilots (including copilots and flight engineers) of $232,140 for May 2025, and $123,220 for commercial pilots. But BLS does not publish a standalone wage category for helicopter pilots. The $123,220 figure blends rotorcraft with fixed-wing charter, corporate flying, survey, firefighting, agriculture, air tours, and flight instruction. Within airline pay, earnings vary widely: among 103,560 pilots, the 10th percentile earns $106,710 and the 90th earns $463,830, while scheduled air transportation has a $293,240 median.