The Salary of a Helicopter Pilot Army Warrant Officer
As a warrant officer in the Army, a helicopter pilot serves above enlisted troops, though doesn't command the same rank as a commissioned officer. Warrant officers, like officers and enlisted troops, are paid uniformly by their pay grade, not by their specialty, so warrant officers serving as rotary wing aviators earn the same salary as warrant officers in all other specialties.
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Warrant Officer Ranks
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The Defense Accounting and Finance Service's base pay structure allows for five pay grades as warrant officers. The U.S. Army utilizes all five of those pay grades, although it only uses two ranks for them. Warrant officer junior grades are paid as W-1 employees on the DFAS' pay schedule, while chief warrant officers may be paid at any pay grade from W-2 to W-5. Most helicopter pilots will be warranted at a W-1 pay grade at the beginning of their careers.
Salary Range
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Pay for a warrant officer ranges from $2,721 monthly for a warrant officer junior grade -- pay grade W-1 -- with less than two years of experience in the Army to $8,925.90 monthly for a chief warrant officer -- pay grade W-5 -- with more than 40 years in the Army. A CW3, chief warrant officer, pay grade W-3, with 10 to 12 years in the Army is roughly midway through the 20-year career stretch of many rotary wing pilots and earns $4,366.20 monthly as of fiscal 2011.
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Requirements
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All enlisted military occupational specialties may qualify to be promoted to a rotary wing aviation warrant officer, though they must meet other criteria. All warrant officers must be U.S. citizens and have a high-school diploma or equivalent and obtain secret security clearance. All warrant officers must also meet Army physical fitness test standards. In addition, aviators must be between the age of 18 and 33 and must meet physical requirements for Army aviators. Helicopter pilot candidates must also score 90 or higher on the Alternate Flight Aptitude Selection Test and receive a letter of recommendation from a major or above or a CW3 to CW5 recommending them for the position.
Other Earnings
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Beyond base pay, warrant officers also receive additional sources of income from the Army. All warrant officers who live off the base qualify for a monthly Basic Housing Allowance stipend to cover housing costs. This allowance varies by local housing costs and pay grade. Officers also receive a tax-exempt allowance for food, the Basic Allowance for Subsistence, and may qualify for hazard pay or hardship duty pay depending upon where they are stationed.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit helicopter image by Tomasz Plawski from Fotolia.com
