How much do (airline) pilots make? Options

[Boeing7E7]

Now I'm trying not to sound nosy here but I'm just wondering how much pilots get paid because it seems like they get paid a lot

[SF3aviatrix]

It is very difficult to 'average' airline pilot pay. Airline pilot pay is something the general public often has a lot of misconceptions about and they think everyone makes a ton of money. The general 'glamorization' of the career leads many people to think that airline pilots make $250-300K+ a year and that they work two weeks or less a month. While there are a select few captains at the major carriers that do, they are by far the minority.

That said:
According to the Air Line Pilots Association, their average major* airline member Captain is 50 years old, with 18 years seniority and makes $182,000 a year. A non-major airline Captain is 41 years old with 10 years of seniority and makes $70,000 a year.

The average ALPA First Officer member at a major airline is 43 years old with 10 years of seniority and makes $121,000 per year, while an ALPA non major First Officer is age 35 with 3 years of service and makes $33,000.

*A major airline is a carrier with more than a billion in sales annually. American, Delta, Northwest, United, Continental, US Airways, Southwest, Alaska (and even several 'regional' carriers) are considered majors by that definition. However, not all major carriers pilots are members of the ALPA union, notably AA & SWA who have their own in house unions.

Factors affecting pilot pay:
~ Time with the company (seniority)
~ Aircraft flown
~ Whether they are a Captain or First Officer (seat)
~ The hours in their monthly schedule
~ The payscale at their specific airline

A pilots pay is figured upon the hourly rate for their seat and their equipment based upon the pay grade for their seniority. Each company also has a set 'minimum guarantee' flight hour pay in their pilot contract. This is generally about 75 hours per month but varies slightly by airline. (A few majors guarantee is only 65!) However, in no case will the pilot earn less than the 'minimum guarantee'. They may fly less than 75 actual flight hours, but they will still be paid for the 75 per their guarantee. If they get a flight schedule that is blocked for more flight hours than the minimum guarantee, they will then get paid for the greater amount of time flown instead, plus per diem. Flight crew make from $1-3 per hour in 'per diem' for every hour they are away from their domicile on a trip to cover expenses. This generally adds a few hundred dollars to their pay check.

A general comparison of starting monthly First Officer pay by airline*:
~ AMERICAN - $2,240
~ CONTINENTAL - $2,500
~ DELTA - $3,640
~ FED EX - $3,700
~ NORTHWEST - $2,574
~ SOUTHWEST - $3,744
~ UNITED - $1,950
~ US AIRWAYS - $1,875
~ UPS - $2,187
*all without per diem, based on minimum monthly guarantee, first year pay in smallest fleet type

Here is a Captain pay comparison* at 12 years of seniority, by the largest type in fleet (best paying):
~ American 777 - $12,352
~ Continental 777 - $14,688
~ Delta 777 - $14,040
~ Fed EX widebody $14,874
~ Northwest 747 - $14,586
~ Southwest 737 - $14,196
~ United 747 - $11,570
~ US Airways A330 $11,520
~ UPS (all a/c) $15,390

(*all without per diem, based on minimum monthly guarantee, 12 pay in largest fleet type)

To find out what the specific base pay is for each major, cargo or charter operator by seat & seniority visit-

www.AirlinePilotPay.com

[mpeterson]

Not as much as they are worth.

[A340-600]

hey,


well what about someone flying the VA A346 or Emirates A345 (soon A380)?

[SF3aviatrix]

... what about someone flying the VA A346 or Emirates A345 (soon A380)?

CAPTAIN SALARY:
Monthly starting Slary is Dhs 28,650 and is reviewed annually. (1 US$ = 3.66 UAE Dirhams). The salary is tax free.
Productivity Pay:
For each block hour above approximately 78 hours per month, an additional Dhs 400

FIRST OFFICER SALARY:
Monthly starting salary is Dhs 18,370 and is reviewed annually. (1 US$ = 3.66 UAE Dirhams). The salary is tax free. On promotion to Captain, a pilot's salary is increased by ten steps. The minimum initial salary on promotion to Captain is Dhs 26,210 per month.

http://www.emiratesgroupcareers.com/Explor...Crew/career.asp

Haven't found Virgin payscales on the web yet.

[Longbow_Pilot]

I don't make much in the army.... military pilots are horrible underpaid in relation to thier civil counterparts where jet piloting is concerned. Helicopter pilots are taken a lot better care of in the military. Kind of the red headed step children of aviation in the civil world... I make about 1900 after taxes, but the military compensates me for living expenses...in the civil world i would just make the 1900 a month.

8)

[dolbinau]

Pilots [very little] for [the] first year. [As a] Regional First officer, you'd be lucky to make over 25,000 USD.

It is a Common Misconception Pilots make Hundreds of thousands of dollars to sit there and enjoy the praise with their hat and tux , The truth is, They work very hard and long hours for very little pay.

If you want to be a Commercial pilot, you do it for the experience, for the love of flying, not for the money.

[edit]

[mpeterson]

Pilots **I have a dirty mouth** all, For your first year, Regional First officer, you'd be lucky to make over 25,000 USD.

It is a Common Misconception Pilots make Hundreds of thousands of dollars to sit there and enjoy the praise with their hat and tux , The truth is, They work very hard and long hours for very little pay.

If you want to be a Commercial pilot, you do it for the experience, for the love of flying, not for the money.

but if you do it right, you start raking in the dough during your mid-life crisis, and get those fancy cars and a boat and the snowmobiles 8)

[Fluffdoc]

I don't make much in the army.... military pilots are horrible underpaid in relation to thier civil counterparts where jet piloting is concerned. Helicopter pilots are taken a lot better care of in the military. Kind of the red headed step children of aviation in the civil world... I make about 1900 after taxes, but the military compensates me for living expenses...in the civil world i would just make the 1900 a month.

8)

Yeah, but look at all of the benefits that you get that a senior 777 captain at American doesn't get. Camping out at wonderful places like Ft. Hood, flying in MOPP 4, SDO, PT tests, weigh-ins, frequent PCSs, annual weapons qualification, NVGs, etc.

[dolbinau]

Pilots **I have a dirty mouth** all, For your first year, Regional First officer, you'd be lucky to make over 25,000 USD.

It is a Common Misconception Pilots make Hundreds of thousands of dollars to sit there and enjoy the praise with their hat and tux , The truth is, They work very hard and long hours for very little pay.

If you want to be a Commercial pilot, you do it for the experience, for the love of flying, not for the money.

but if you do it right, you start raking in the dough during your mid-life crisis, and get those fancy cars and a boat and the snowmobiles 8)

I guess, Thats if you make it that far, Not everyone makes it to 777 captains.

[SF3aviatrix]

Pilots [very little] for [the] first year. [As a] Regional First officer, you'd be lucky to make over 25,000 USD.

Very, as average first year pay is more like $19,000. A few companies do pay better, faster than others though. For instance second year pay at Skywest jumps to $33K.

Here are some regionals starting gross monthly pay (guarantee only):
American Eagle $1,725
Comair - $1,72
Chautauqua - $1,650
Mesa - $1,596
Mesaba - $1,800
Pinnacle $1,575
Skywest $1,425
Trans States $1,628

[mpeterson]

hope mesaba is hiring in 2010-2012

[Ranger]

Not as much as they are worth.

AMEN!!!!

[McJiz]

ad

[daredevile]

Well...reality check
A pilots salary flying under part 121 varies from company to company
First of all you will start with a regional [airline]/[commuters]. starting [salary] averages between 15000-to 22000 USD.

you will not upgrade to a major airline unless you have at least 2500hours PIC time in airplanes over 12.500lbs.

better paid pilots are the corporate pilots.
for example to fly as an F.O in a falcon you are looking to start with at least 60-70 000USD.
How do you get this...Well.it's all about who you know .
Lifestyle of a corporate pilot isn't [exactly] the best but...
I currently fly corporate and believe me..I have been through airlines and military and it's really hard these days to get a job as a pilot anywhere.
The requirements are high and the competition is higher. Thats why i recommend first to have at least a bachelor's and then go to an good school such as Flight Safety or Pan Am or Embry Riddle etc etc so you can make your self as more [competitive] as you can.
Get as more ratings as you can and then apply. Keyword in a resume is multi-engine time....CFI and AGI and of course flight training. Preferable Part 141 schools instead of Part 61 schools. Also try to get glass cockpit training and CRM.

i know i [skipped] from the subject but thats a general idea and suggestions to who ever wants to know how is it in reality.
If you have any questions feel free to ask
Thanks

[spell check edit]

[PC-6]

Get as more ratings as you can and then apply.

Just out of curiosity, how much are you going to spend for, say, a 737 or A320 or Lear45 type rating??

I was interested in a Pilatus Porter (PC-6) type rating to be able to fly skydivers up but it's roughly 10,000 USD to get the Type. (I'll wait til I am ready to fully commit in my flying career, a matter of months now!)
:cry:

[dolbinau]

Just out of curiosity, how much are you going to spend for, say, a 737 or A320 or Lear45 type rating??

Most airlines pay for this.. (Well, At least alot in Australia do, Qantas, Rex, Virgin etc..)

[KSDF]

If i remember correctly, I *think* that UPS pilots pay is not based on fleet type. Seniority, Seat, and I *think* qualifications...give me some time and i will look that all up.

[KSDF]

bingo! http://www.willflyforfood.cc/Payscales/UPSPay.htm

[heavydf]

After reading these posts...I came to one conclusion. Pilots DON'T get PAID ENOUGH. You don't just jump in the seat and start flying.....a lot of work is done by the pilots behind the scenes before a flight can even begin. Long hours, scrutiny by the uninformed etc.etc.