Sheriff Helicopter Pilot Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $87,935.90 - $133,793.40 Annually
Location : County of San Diego, CA
Job Type: Regular - Full time
Job Number: 26574607L
Department: Sheriff
Division: Law Enforcement Southeast
Opening Date: 07/01/2026
Closing Date: Continuous
Job Summary
Are you alaw enforcement professional with proven experience; consider joining the County of San Diego Sheriff's Office team!
We're hiring for Deputy Sheriff-Lateral.
About the Position
Newly hired Lateral Deputy Sheriffs are assigned to one of three bureaus: Detentions, Court Services, or Law Enforcement Services. Assignments are based on the needs of the Sheriff's Office and on the applicant's training and experience. Deputy Sheriffs perform a variety of general law enforcement functions consisting of patrol, court services, investigations, arrest, apprehension, supervision of inmates, and other duties as assigned. Read the completethat includes minimum requirements, physical characteristics, license requirements, and working conditions.
The ideal candidate will possess the following desirable traits: communicates effectively, knowledge worker, customer-focused, values and respects others, drives to excel, teamwork and collaboration, continuous learning, demonstrates ethical behavior, and supportive of change.
The starting salary for this position will be based on the candidate's qualifications at time of appointment.
Additional pay incentives and premiums that are available for those who are eligible:

• Relocation Pay up to $15,000
• Lateral Incentive Pay up to $20,000.
• Night Shift Premium/ Shift Differential - 5% with 4 or more hours worked between 5:00 PM - 8:00 AM.
• Sheriff's Rural Enforcement Program Assignment - 10% of base pay
• Training Officer Premium - $100.00 biweekly
• Corporal Assignment Premium - 5% of base pay
• Bilingual Premium - $100.00 biweekly
• Bomb/Arson Premium - up to 10% of base pay
• Motor Officer Premium - 7.5% of base pay
• Prisoner Transportation Premium - 3% of base pay
• Detective Assignment Premium - 5% of base pay
• Pilot Fire/Life Safety Premium - 5% of base pay
• Helicopter Pilot - up to 12.5% of base pay
• Helicopter Tactical Flight Officer - 7.5% of base pay
• Major Crimes - 2.5% of base pay
• K9 Premium - 5% of base pay

This hard-to-recruit position qualifies for the Employee Referral Reward Program. If a current County of San Diego employee referred you to apply for this position, please indicate the employee's name on your job application in the space provided.
Minimum Requirements At The Time Of Application
1. Current enrollment in a California P.O.S.T. Basic Law Enforcement Academy;
OR;
2. Successful completion of a California P.O.S.T. Basic Law Enforcement Academy within the past three (3) years and possession of a valid Certificate of Completion.
OR;
3. Successful completion, at any time, of a California P.O.S.T. Basic Law Enforcement Academy, with less than a three (3) year break in service in one of the following Penal Code categories:
830.1 Sheriff's, Marshals, City Police, San Diego Unified Port District Harbor Police, etc.;
832.2(a) California Highway Patrol;
830.2(d) Member of University of California Police Department;
830.2(e) Member of California State University and College Police Department;
830.31(g) Member of San Francisco BART Police;
830.31(h)Harbor or Port Police.
OR;
4. Successful completion of a California P.O.S.T. Re-Certification Course, and possess a valid California P.O.S.T. Certificate.
OR;
5. Successful completion of a California Basic P.O.S.T. Waiver Exam, with documentation from P.O.S.T.
OR;
6. Successful completion of Levels 1, 2, 3; or the four-part reserve format training modules A, B, C, & D for the regular Basic Course within the last three years.
Note: For individuals currently enrolled in a POST academy, at the time of application, the applicant must present a letter from the Academy, on letter head, confirming enrollment, and graduation date. Eligibility for POST certification must be active for at least one year beyond the date of application. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of the academy. There will be no waivers of the above requirements. Experience in the United States military service is highly desirable.
In Addition To The Above, Applicants Must Meet All Of The Following Requirements At The Time Of Application
(a) Must be at least 20.5 years of age at the time of the Firearm Qualifications Shoot Examination described below; at least 21 years of age at the time of appointment.
(b) Must possess a U.S. high school diploma or GED certificate; or a degree from an accredited college or university.
(c) Must have no felony convictions and must not be on probation; misdemeanors may be disqualifying depending on number, type and recency.
(d) Must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Condition Of Employment
As part of the County of San Diego's pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check (including fingerprinting) and a pre-employment in accordance with the California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) prior to beginning County employment. Additional types of background investigations will be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position.
Illegal drug use and possession is prohibited in any form by Sheriff's Office employees.
Applicants Must Meet The Following Requirements At The Time Of The Selection Interview And Background Investigation Processes

1. Effective oral and written communication skills in English
2. Vision: Correctable to at least 20/30. Applicants using eyeglasses or hard contact lenses must have uncorrected visual acuity of no worse than 20/100. There is no minimum uncorrected visual acuity requirement for individuals wearing soft contact lenses. All standards are subject to the requirements established by the State of California P.O.S.T.
3. Possession of a valid California class C driver's license prior to appointment.

Application Process
STEP 1: Complete the online application form providing correct and complete responses to the Supplemental Questions and attach qualifying documentation outlined above. Please ensure all information is complete and accurate as the responses you provide on the supplemental application form will be reviewed using an automated evaluation system. If you are successful in the initial screening process your application will be reviewed individually to confirm that the information you provided is accurate and qualifying.
Note: Applicants must submit copy of P.O.S.T. certificate, P.O.S.T. waiver, re-certification or letter from P.O.S.T. academy with application in order to meet minimum qualifications and be invited to continue to next step in the recruitment process.
STEP 2: If you meet the minimum qualifications for Deputy Sheriff-Lateral, you will be invited to schedule yourself for the Firearm Qualifications Shoot Examination.
Note: Once scheduled, you will NOT receive a reminder to appear to the firearm qualification shoot examination. Please note the date and time of your exam when you self-scheduled yourself. This is your responsibility. UNSCHEDULED CANDIDATES WILL NOT BE ADMITTED. If you do not meet the minimum qualifications for Deputy Sheriff-Lateral, as determined by the application screening, the Department of Human Resources will notify you via e-mail. If you receive this email you will not be eligible to take the Firearm Qualifications Shoot examination.
If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Human Resources at (619) 236-2191 or via email at
Evaluation
Applicants must successfully pass Qualifications Shoot examination to be placed on the 12-month eligibility list for Deputy Sheriff-Lateral.
Accommodation
Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions of the job, on a case-by-case basis.
Summary Of The Overall Evaluation Process

1. Complete the online application and Supplemental Questions

1. Firearm Qualification Shoot Examination and Pre-Screening Orientation - Refer to the description below for more information on the Firearm Qualification Shoot Examination. Candidates who successfully pass the Firearm Qualification Shoot will then complete the Pre-Screening Orientation (PIQ). Successful candidates may then be invited to participate in the background investigation and selection interview processes listed below.

Applicants must successfully pass both the Firearm Qualification Shoot and Pre-Screening Orientation(PIQ) in order to be placed on the 12-month eligibility list for Deputy Sheriff Lateral.

1. Law Enforcement Physical Agility Test (PAT) and Physical Assessment.
2. Comprehensive Background Investigation which takes a minimum of four to six months to complete.
3. Computer Voice Stress Analysis (CVSA) Exam and Employment Interview.
4. Selection Interview conducted by Sheriff's sworn management.
5. Psychological Evaluation conducted by a County appointed Psychologist.
6. Medical Exam conducted by a County Physician.

Please Note: Steps 3-8 may be completed out of order
Firearms Qualification Shoot Examination
Test Components:

• 30 total handgun (HG) rounds - 26 hits (on target) to pass
• 4 total shotgun (SH) rounds - 3 hits (on target) to pass
• Scored as Pass/Fail
• Two attempts permitted

Course of Fire:
Handgun only

• 03-Yard Line: (03) rounds DOMINANT/STRONG hand only point shooting
• 03-Yard Line: (03) rounds SUPPORT/WEAK hand only point shooting
• 05-Yard Line: (06) rounds two hand eye level hold
• 07-Yard Line: (06) rounds two hand eye level hold
• 10-Yard Line: (06) rounds total. (03) rounds from each side of barricade two hand eye level hold
• 10-Yard Line: (06) rounds two hand eye level hold

Shotgun only

• Patrol ready the shotgun with (4) rounds
• 10-Yard Line: (03) rounds (on target)
• Chamber the fourth round, but DO NOT FIRE. Safely unload the chambered round, and make the shotgun safe

Contact Information
The Department of Human Resources at (619) 236-2191 or via email at or, Sheriff's Recruiting Unit at (858) 974-2000 or via e-mail at
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Under California Government Code Sections 3100 - 3109, public employees are designated as disaster service workers. The term "public employees" includes all persons employed by the state or any county, city, state agency, or public district. Disaster service workers are required to participate in such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their employer or by law.
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01
Applicants are required to complete Step 1 by completing and submitting this online application before appearing for the Firearm Qualification Shoot examination for Deputy Sheriff-Lateral.Do you understand this information?

• Yes
• No

02
Are you at least 20.5 years of age as of the date of this online application for Deputy Sheriff Lateral?

• Yes
• No

03
Do you possess a United States high school diploma or GED certificate; OR do you possess a two-year or a four-year degree from an accredited United States college or university?

• Yes
• No

04
QUALIFYING TRAINING. How are you qualifying for the Deputy Sheriff LE Lateral? (Select the option that best aligns with your experience).

• Currently enrolled in a California P.O.S.T. Basic Law Enforcement Academy.
• Completed a California P.O.S.T. Basic Law Enforcement Academy within the past three (3) years and possess a valid Cert