Best Helicopter Pilot Jobs in Utah

Editor’s note: The following article is not intended to be a ranking, but is only to serve as a list of possible options. As the saying goes, your mileage may vary.

Utah has some great options when it comes to helicopter jobs. Having both large metropolitan areas and mountainous terrain provides variety for pilots looking to take off in the state. FLYING reviewed the most popular helicopter pilot jobs in Utah and five came out on top.  

Quicklook: Best Helicopter Pilot Jobs in Utah

• Best for internal satisfaction: Emergency medical service/air ambulance helicopter pilot 
• Best for time building: Helicopter flight instructor
• Best public service career: Law enforcement helicopter pilot 
• Best opportunity for remote work: Aerial application helicopter pilot
• Best for a challenge: Skiing Pilot

Best Helicopter Pilot Jobs – Utah

When choosing the best helicopter job for you in Utah, it is best to understand what kind of industry you are looking to get into, if this is a time-building stepping stone, and the size of the company. Once you have gauged these metrics, you can look into jobs that fit the bill. Here are our top picks for the best helicopter jobs in Utah.

Emergency Medical Service/Air Ambulance Helicopter Pilot 

Emergency medical service helicopter pilots are a top job in Utah and those that do it are an essential part of the emergency service department. Being a first responder in life or death situations, an emergency medical service helicopter must be aware that there are some gruesome parts of the job.

Location: All major cities within Utah have an air ambulance division.

Salary or Per-Trip Price: The average salary for medical services pilots in Utah is $92,000 with the potential to make more in large metropolitan areas.

Benefits:

• Most emergency service or hospital air ambulance divisions offer comprehensive health benefits packages with medical/hospital coverage
• Average pay for a helicopter pilot in the state
• Supporting emergency medical services can provide intrinsic rewards

Disadvantages:

• High stress 
• High risk  
• On call for long hours 

Helicopter Pilot School Instructor

A helicopter flight instructor conducts pilot ground and simulator training courses, develops and prepares training materials, and evaluates trainees’ progress through the curricula. In addition to ground instruction, flight instructors train students in flight as well. They also recommend candidates for qualification or additional training, and identify training issues that might require review.

Location: Many colleges and universities, as well as small flight schools, give pilots the opportunity to build hours by being a flight instructor. Find out the locations of these schools in FLYING’s Flight School Guide. 

Salary or Per-Trip Price: On average, Utah helicopter flight instructors make around $25-$35 per hour. 

Benefits: 

• Regular hours and a more predictable schedule
• High demand for simulator instructors   
• Great for time building

Disadvantages: 

• Lower pay than most helicopter pilot jobs 
• Can be monotonous 

Law Enforcement Helicopter Pilot

Law enforcement helicopter pilots, similar to medevac pilots, are at the front line in emergencies. Being a law enforcement helicopter pilot is a highly skilled position that requires the ability to maneuver and land in crowded metropolitan areas as well as mountainous terrain.  Law enforcement helicopter pilots can be employed as a deputy sheriff for a county, as an officer for a city police department, or as an agent for a national organization, Drug Enforcement Administration or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. 

Location: Throughout Utah with high demand in metropolitan areas, like Salt Lake City.

Salary or Per-Trip Price: The average annual pay for a law enforcement helicopter pilot in Utah is $72,000 a year.

Benefits: 

• Job security
• State and/or federal government benefits; i.e., paid holidays, 401K matching, etc.
• Public service career 

Disadvantages: 

• High risk environment with exposure to criminal activity

Aerial Application Helicopter Pilot

According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, Utah has more than 18,400 farms encompassing more than 10.8 million acres. This means there are plenty of opportunities to work in agriculture as an aerial application (crop dusting) pilot. Some of the aerial application pilot jobs within the state are state-funded and come with great benefits

Location: Throughout Utah (with potential travel to other states)

Salary or Per-Trip Price: The average aerial applicator pilot salary in Utah is $95,000.

Benefits: 

• Opportunities for contract, employed, and government positions 
• Opportunities for low-time hour pilots and time-building
• Work rotating weeks/months

Disadvantages: 

• One of the highest fatality rates in aviation
• Working with pesticides and other hazardous materials
• Some positions may be seasonal

Helicopter Skiing Pilot

A helicopter ski pilot is similar to a tour guide pilot but is different in the fact that the pilot will land and drop passengers high in the mountains for the purpose of skiing to the bottom. Helicopter ski pilots must take specific training courses to understand the safety and skill needed to land and drop skiers at high altitudes in the snow. Being a helicopter ski pilot can be an exciting career path but it can also be quite dangerous.

Location:  Jobs for helicopter skiing pilots are located at all major mountain skiing destinations in Utah. 

Salary or Per-Trip Price: Depending on the ski resort you are employed with, pay for a helicopter ski pilot can range anywhere from $40,000 to $75,000 per year.

Benefits: 

• Exciting career with multiple mountain stations 
• National parks have great benefits

Disadvantages:

• Lower pay at some resorts
• High-risk environment in snowy conditions
• Additional training required

Commercial Helicopter Pilot Requirements in Utah

To become a commercial pilot in the state of Utah you must:

• Hold a current commercial helicopter pilot certificate
• Be at least 18 years old
• Read, speak, write, and understand the English language
• Hold at least a second-class medical certificate
• Obtain a minimum of 40 Hours of helicopter flight training and 10 hours of ground instruction
• Satisfactorily pass an FAA-required flight test

After all the requirements are completed, you may apply to helicopter jobs within the state.

How Long Does It Take To Become a Commercial Helicopter Pilot? 

The timeframe it takes to become a helicopter pilot depends a lot on how much time you devote to training and where you complete your training. It can take six to 12 months to earn a commercial helicopter pilot certificate from start to finish if you are training full time. For part-time student pilots, a commercial helicopter pilot certificate can take longer, up to 12 to 24 months. 

What To Consider When Looking for Helicopter Pilot Jobs

When determining if a helicopter pilot job is right for you, there are several basic questions you should ask: 

1) Does the company offer job security? 

2) What are the safety protocols? 

3) How much will you make? 

4) What is the location of the position? 

Choose the position that best meets your requirements in each of these areas before applying.

Job Security

Helicopter pilot jobs normally come with inherent job security due to the high-demand for skilled and experienced pilots, and the technical skills the job requires, but it is important to understand your potential employer’s industry and operations, as these may affect job security. Job security is important to take into consideration when applying for a helicopter pilot job because you do not want to be stuck looking for a new position, in cases of company closure, bankruptcy, or a recession. Look for long-standing companies that have years of experience hiring and training pilots. Ask current and former employees their opinions or look at reviews online to gauge job security.

Safety 

It’s important to show that you put safety first in any aviation profession, but especially as a pilot. Safety in the aviation industry should be at the forefront of everyone’s minds. Companies that hire helicopter pilots should be dedicated to the safety of the pilot as well as the passengers. Research the safety protocols of the companies you apply to online or by asking current and former pilots. During your interviews, ask the hiring manager if there are any specific safety protocols you should be aware of before taking the position.

Salary

Salary is one of the most important metrics when applying for a new position. Set a guideline for yourself and your family and apply to companies and positions that meet those guidelines. If you are right out of flight school, do not have unrealistic expectations of salary, but find the best position to fit your needs in the short term. The more experience you get, the higher the salary you can ask for. Salaries for helicopter pilot jobs in Utah average between $68,000 and $150,000 a year, or more; however, the average salary for helicopter pilots in Utah hovers around $95,394, per year.

Location

When searching for a pilot job, focus on the area you want to live in. Whether that be Utah or another state, helicopter pilot jobs are everywhere, so choose a location you will be happy to live in for the long term.

Mountain View from Above

Applying to a new job can be daunting but in Utah you have options. Choosing the best helicopter job in Utah for you can be easy if you consider the most important metrics, safety, salary, location, and job security. Learn more about helicopter pilot jobs and stay up to date on the top news in aviation by subscribing to FLYING Magazine.

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