Also called: Air Force 1A9, AC-130 gunner, Helicopter gunner
Enlisted aircrew who operate guns, hoists, and cargo on gunships and helicopters, and scan for threats during missions.
Special missions aviators load and fire the cannons on AC-130 gunships, hang out of helicopter doors on rescues, operate hoists, and act as extra eyes for pilots.
RMC (base pay + housing/food allowances + tax advantage) for typical E-1 to E-7 ranks, 2026 estimate, plus the special-duty, hazardous-duty, flight, dive, jump, or language pays this specialty usually earns. Enlistment/reenlistment bonuses for this field can be large.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 0.5 years after high school. High school diploma and ASVAB, then basic training plus about a year of aircrew training, including SERE survival school. Free-college benefits: Tuition Assistance (up to $4,500/yr) while serving, the Post-9/11 GI Bill (36 months of tuition + housing stipend) afterward, and SkillBridge internships before separating.
Ways in: Military, On-the-job training. Training cost: Get paid while you train.
Growing about average. Military specialties are not in BLS projections. The services recruit for this job every year and openings track force size and retention rather than market growth.
Low risk for 10 years. Sensors help spot threats; running guns, hoists and cargo in flight stay human.
Classes: PE / strength training, Physics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 55-3011.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.