How much money does a helicopter pilot make? This is an important factor to consider when looking to become a pilot. You might be shocked by how much money some pilots are making. As a helicopter pilot, not only will you make good money, but you will also get generous benefits and meet some really cool people. Plus, the life of a helicopter pilot is amazing. You will get paid to fly for a living! How cool is that? This job is a great way to help you build your flight hours and get relevant experience that will impress your future employers. It takes about 1, hours of flight time to qualify for a great helicopter pilot gig, and a lot of those hours will be earned as an instructor.