Aviation Officer
Raleigh, NC · On-site
HELICOPTER PILOT - As a helicopter pilot, the sky is your domain. Hover over the sea for search and rescue, extract Sailors and Special Forces from a hot landing zone or track and neutralize enemy ...
Aviation Officer
Raleigh, NC · On-site
HELICOPTER PILOT - As a helicopter pilot, the sky is your domain. Hover over the sea for search and rescue, extract Sailors and Special Forces from a hot landing zone or track and neutralize enemy ...
HELICOPTER PILOT - As a helicopter pilot, the sky is your domain. Hover over the sea for search and rescue, extract Sailors and Special Forces from a hot landing zone or track and neutralize enemy ...
HELICOPTER PILOT - As a helicopter pilot, the sky is your domain. Hover over the sea for search and rescue, extract Sailors and Special Forces from a hot landing zone or track and neutralize enemy ...
Helicopter Rescue information
See Raleigh, NC salary details
$57.8K - $61.6K
1% of jobs
$61.6K - $65.4K
1% of jobs
$65.4K - $69.2K
1% of jobs
$69.2K - $73K
1% of jobs
$73K - $76.8K
0% of jobs
$76.8K - $80.6K
0% of jobs
$80.6K - $84.4K
1% of jobs
$84.4K - $88.2K
2% of jobs
$88.2K - $92K
2% of jobs
$93.7K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$92K - $95.8K
36% of jobs
The median wage is $96.1K / yr.
$95.8K - $99.6K
54% of jobs
$57.8K
$93.7K
$99.6K
How much do helicopter rescue jobs pay per year?
As of Jun 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for helicopter rescue in Raleigh, NC is $93,700.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $95,700.00 and $95,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.
What Are Helicopter Rescue Jobs?
As a helicopter rescue pilot, your job is to help provide emergency services in response to sudden needs. In this role, you may keep your helicopter ready to head out on a flight, coordinate with emergency rescuers, and perform various airborne tasks as needed. This job particularly focuses on search and rescue operations, such as finding and recovering people who are lost in the wilderness. Pilots do not provide medical care for rescued passengers, but other personnel onboard might. Related jobs include flight crew, paramedic, or maintenance positions. Helicopter rescue jobs should not be confused with air ambulance jobs. While you may deliver people to hospitals, this job does not always involve rescuing sick or injured passengers and may involve flying into dangerous situations.
What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Helicopter Rescue Specialist, and why are they important?
To thrive as a Helicopter Rescue Specialist, you need advanced knowledge of search and rescue operations, aviation safety, and emergency medical response, typically supported by certifications such as EMT or paramedic and specialized rescue training. Familiarity with navigation systems, radio communication tools, winching equipment, and survival gear is essential. Exceptional decision-making skills, teamwork, and the ability to stay calm under pressure are critical soft skills in this role. These skills and qualities are vital to ensure safe, efficient rescues and optimal outcomes in challenging and often life-threatening environments.
What are some common challenges faced by helicopter rescue professionals during emergency missions?
Helicopter rescue professionals often encounter rapidly changing weather conditions, challenging terrain, and the need to make quick, critical decisions under pressure. Working as part of a tightly coordinated team, they must communicate effectively with pilots, medical staff, and ground teams to ensure a successful rescue. Physical and mental stamina are crucial, as missions can be unpredictable and require long hours. Continuous training and adaptability help professionals overcome these challenges and maintain safety for both the rescue team and those being assisted.
What are helicopter rescue workers?
Helicopter rescue workers are trained professionals who use helicopters to perform emergency rescue operations, often in hard-to-reach or dangerous locations. They may be paramedics, pilots, or specialized crew members responsible for reaching people in distress, such as those stranded by natural disasters, accidents, or medical emergencies. Their duties include flying to the scene, providing medical care, and safely transporting individuals to safety or medical facilities. These workers undergo rigorous training in both aviation and emergency response to handle a wide range of challenging scenarios. Helicopter rescue missions are critical for saving lives when traditional ground-based rescues are not possible.
What is the difference between Helicopter Rescue vs Search and Rescue Technician?
| Aspect | Helicopter Rescue | Search and Rescue Technician |
|---|---|---|
| Certifications | FAA helicopter pilot license, rescue training | First aid, CPR, rescue operations training |
| Work Environment | Helicopter, outdoor, remote locations | Ground-based, varied terrains |
| Employer & Industry | Rescue agencies, emergency services | Fire departments, rescue teams |
Helicopter Rescue involves operating helicopters to perform aerial rescues, often requiring pilot licenses and specialized rescue training. Search and Rescue Technicians typically work on the ground, conducting search operations and providing emergency aid. While both roles focus on saving lives, Helicopter Rescue emphasizes aerial operations, whereas Search and Rescue Technicians are ground-based responders.
More about Helicopter Rescue jobs
What are popular job titles related to Helicopter Rescue jobs in Raleigh, NC? For Helicopter Rescue jobs in Raleigh, NC, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Helicopter Rescue jobs in Raleigh, NC look for? The top searched job categories for Helicopter Rescue jobs in Raleigh, NC are:
United States Navy rating
6.2
Based on 369 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz
39th of 46 rated military and defense
Job description
ABOUT
The U.S. Navy operates more than 3,700 aircraft, making it the second largest air force in the world — second only to the U.S. Air Force. Below are the careers in aviation that work together to get our birds in the sky.
AVIATION JOBS IN THE NAVY
FIGHTER PILOT - Complete complex air maneuvers while flying at Mach speeds. Catapult off carriers at 170 mph and land on moving runways only 300 feet long. Gather intel, drop ordnance and conduct defensive missions—all in the F/A-18 Hornet and the cutting-edge F-35C Lightning II.
AIRCRAFT HANDLING OFFICER - Every performance needs a choreographer and on the deck of an aircraft carrier, that person is you. You’re in charge of directing the movement of the entire flight deck from the jet launch sequence to aircraft recovery.
FIXED WING PILOT - In the C-2 Greyhound, you transport parts, personnel, and mail to the 5,000 people aboard. In the cockpit of the E-2C Hawkeye, you’re on patrol as the command control center in the sky. If you’re flying the P-3 Orion or the brand-new P-8 Poseidon, you hunt submarines using cutting- edge software, radar, sonar, and acoustics.
HELICOPTER PILOT - As a helicopter pilot, the sky is your domain. Hover over the sea for search and rescue, extract Sailors and Special Forces from a hot landing zone or track and neutralize enemy submarines in defense of your ship.
NAVAL FLIGHT OFFICER - In this role, you’re the navigator, the lookout and the weapon operator inside naval aviation. Whether you’re hunting submarines from a P-8 Poseidon, navigating an E-2 Hawkeye through enemy territory or dropping bombs from the backseat of an F-18 fighter jet.
AVIATION MAINTENANCE DUTY OFFICER - You’re in charge of managing the repair and upkeep of our most lethal aviation assets—over eighty different types of aircraft. In addition to that, you manage hundreds of personnel, making this a job that requires a level of organization and focus that few can say they’ve mastered.
PAY AND BENEFITS
From the day you start, you’ll receive:
- Competitive salary
- Free health insurance
- Free housing
- A retirement plan
- 30 days paid vacation per year
EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Beyond professional credentials and certifications, the Navy can help ease your financial burdens and advance your career with generous financial assistance and continuing education programs, including:
- Post-9/11 GI Bill
- Navy Tuition Assistance Program
- Naval Postgraduate School (NPS)
- Navy College Program
- VOLED Assistance Center
- VOLED Region Advisors
- Navy War College (NWC)
- USAF Air University Air Command and Staff College
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree
- Students may apply in last 12 months of pursuing degree
- U.S. citizen or equivalent
- 17 years of age or older
General qualifications may vary depending upon whether you’re currently serving, whether you’ve served before or whether you’ve never served before.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
In the field of aviation, you’ll make the world your home. You may be assigned to sea or shore squadrons on almost any continent. You will have the opportunity to work in a variety of environments—airborne aircraft, hangars, flight decks, flight lines at air stations and on aircraft carriers.
PART-TIME OPPORTUNITIES
Some of the above aviation jobs in the Navy Reserve are open only to prior or current military aviators.
What United States Navy employees say
Pay
Benefits
Hours and flexibility
Workplace
Get the full story on Breakroom
About US Navy
Sourced by ZipRecruiter
Industry
National security, national security and international affairs, public safety statistics centers and offices, guided missile and space vehicle manufacturing and public administration
Company size
10,000+ Employees
Headquarters location
Washington, DC, US