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Pilot
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
Helicopters are used to:
Flying a helicopter involves both the hands and feet. The right hand controls the direction of flight. The left hand controls altitude. Foot pedals point the helicopter in the right direction.
Helicopter pilots need good eyesight to scan the instrument panel and navigate the helicopter. To navigate, they use:
While flying helicopters, pilots stay in contact with other aircraft and NAV CANADA. NAV CANADA manages Canadian airspace and provides information including weather updates.
Helicopter pilots’ duties can vary a lot from one job to another. They:
Helicopter pilots may also need to manage job logistics such as:
Helicopter pilots can work in urban or remote areas, including offshore. Those who work in remote areas often are away from home for long periods. Sometimes they work in severe weather.
Some days they may be on call. In some industries, such as fire rescue, work hours can be irregular. Other industries have set schedules, allowing pilots to have regular hours.
Some helicopter pilots work full time. Others work on a seasonal basis from spring until fall. They may work on a contract basis.
They often load and unload cargo. The work can be stressful. Flying requires constant alertness. Flight schedules can be tight with pickup or delivery deadlines.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2006 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Interest in driving - operating fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters to provide services such as search-and-rescue operations, aerial surveying and spraying and crop dusting
Interest in analyzing information to test new aircraft to evaluate performance
Interest in speaking with crews to direct their activities during flights as captain or co-pilot and in performing captain's duties as first officer, if required; in training other pilots on new equipment, and in preparing them for examinations to validate and upgrade existing licences
To identify or change your interest codes, complete the Interests Exercise in CAREERinsite.
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective, and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes for this NOC group is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Exercise in CAREERinsite.
A Quick Guide
You are born with abilities that help you process certain types of information and turn it into action. These abilities influence which skills you can learn more easily.
The abilities or aptitudes shown for this NOC group come from the General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB). The GATB measures 9 aptitudes. It groups them into 3 categories: mental, visual, and physical.
The abilities scores range from 1 to 5, with 5 being stronger.
Helicopter pilots need:
They should enjoy:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 39 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Feb 04, 2022 and Nov 27, 2023.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Fly fixed wing aircrafts or helicopters | 26 |
|---|---|
| Work under pressure | 24 |
| Construction Specialization: Client focus | 23 |
| Hand-eye co-ordination | 22 |
| Attention to detail | 22 |
| Construction Specialization: Team player | 22 |
| Work Site Environment: Outdoors | 21 |
| Tasks: Co-ordinate flight activities with ground crews and air-traffic control, inform crew members of flight and test procedures and direct activities of aircraft crew during flights | 20 |
| Construction Specialization: Excellent oral communication | 20 |
| Tasks: Conduct in-flight tests and monitor functioning of aircraft equipment and systems during flights | 20 |
A high school diploma is not required. However, employers consider it a definite asset.
Helicopter pilots must be licensed by the Government of Canada. The 100-hour course leading to a Commercial Pilot Licence - Helicopter takes 3 to 6 months. Costs range from $50,000 to $86,000 depending on the type of helicopter used for training.
Persons holding a Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane can complete a 60-hour course. The cost of this helicopter endorsement course is usually less than the 100-hour course.
For a list of flight schools in Alberta, visit the Government of Canada website.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your search for programs related to this occupation, visit Post-Secondary Programs.
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
Helicopter pilots must be licensed by the Government of Canada. To qualify, applicants must:
Persons who hold other licences such as Private Pilot Licence - Helicopter or Commercial Pilot Licence - Aeroplane have reduced training hour and flight time requirements.
For detailed information, visit the Government of Canada website.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
The job market for new helicopter pilots can be difficult. New pilots will log 100 hours by the time they finish training. This means all new pilots start at the same level.
It can take up to 3 years to complete the first 500 hours. As pilots gain more flight hours, they become more employable. Every added 500 hours can open opportunities in other industries.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
In the 2271: Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors occupational group, 81.6% of people work in:
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, the 2271: Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.5% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 59 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.
Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Employment turnover is generally low in this occupation but is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
New helicopter pilots generally enter higher pay brackets after 5 years. Salaries may be higher working in logging or heli-skiing.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Unless otherwise noted, the data shown here is for all industries and all regions in Alberta.
All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production), and other forms of compensation.
To see the full survey data for this NOC group, visit the wage profile.
Other wage sources
To make an informed wage and salary decision, research other wage sources [pdf] to supplement this data.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.00 | $57.54 | $25.13 | $21.15 |
| Overall | $23.40 | $66.34 | $36.39 | $33.64 |
| Top | $25.48 | $67.49 | $54.86 | $60.10 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Pay brackets for hourly wages
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $75,257 |
|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | $74,559 |
| Educational Services | $52,641 |
| Public Administration | $128,207 |
Aviation, Government of Canada website: tc.canada.ca/en/aviation
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2022. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
