The Average Salary of a Military Helicopter Pilot
The average salary of a military helicopter pilot depends on his rank and how many years the pilot has served. In addition to base salary, helicopter pilots may receive special pay for their flight time. They also receive allowances for expenses like housing. Helicopter pilots must have at least a bachelor’s degree and attend intensive flight and officer candidacy training.
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Warrant Officers
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Military helicopter pilots are often warrant officers, which is an officer below commissioned officer, but above enlisted soldier. The United States Air Force is the only branch of the military that does not have warrant officers. Warrant officers specialize in a particular technical area. Some may be helicopter pilots that continue to serve as pilots and do not become generalist officers, like commissioned officers. They hold warrants from their service secretary in the lowest ranks, but they receive a presidential commission when they are promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 2. In the Air Force, pilots are commissioned officers.
Military Salary
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An officer’s rank and his length of service are two of the most important components in determining his salary. In addition to base pay and allowances, he may receive other types of pay. For example, Navy helicopter pilots earn flight pay in addition to their basic pay and allowances. Student aviation officers earned $125 month in flight pay while in flight school. The maximum flight pay at the time of publication was $840 per month.
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Warrant Officer Salary
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The lowest level of warrant officer, W-1, earned a base salary of between $2,721 per month and $4,702 per month in 2011, depending on years served. W-2s earned between $3,100 and $5,174 per month, and W-3s made between $3,503 and $6,145. W-4s earned between $3,836 and $7,146, and W-5s made between $6,821 and $8,926 per month.
Air Force Officer Salary
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The salary for an O-1 in the Air Force, a second lieutenant, was between $33,396 and $42,036 per year, depending on years served, at the time of publication. A first lieutenant, O-2, earned between a base salary of between $38,484 and $53,256 per year. An O-3, or captain, earned between $44,544 and $72,468. An O-4, or major, had a salary range between $50,664 and $84,588. O-5s, or lieutenant colonels earned between $58,716 and $99,756. O-5s, or colonels, had salary ranges between $70,440 and $124,692.
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References
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