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Average Pilot Wages In The USA

Blue_Angel From France, joined Jun 1999, 81 posts, RR: 0
Posted (13 years 11 months 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 7019 times:

Hi !
I was wondering how much an american pilot earn in a company like Air Tran and in a company like United...
Thanks !

9 replies: All unread, jump to last

JETPILOT From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3130 posts, RR: 32
Reply 1, posted (13 years 11 months 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 7020 times:

An Airtran first year first officer makes 2,083 per month on an 85 hour per month guarantee. His salary max is in the second year making 3740.00 per month on the same guarantee.

An Airtran Captain makes 2083.00 per month in the first year on an 85 hour per month guarantee. His wages max out at 7140.00 per month in the eight year.

A United flight engineer (God save the flight engineers) makes 2366.00 per month on a 79 hour per month guarantee on a 727.

A United first officer first year makes 3048.00 per month on a 737. And will max out after 30 years at 7658.00 per month.

A United captain on the 747-400 makes 15,614.00 dollars a month in his first year and will max out at 15,936 after 30 years with the company.

Bruce From United States of America, joined May 1999, 5025 posts, RR: 17
Reply 2, posted (13 years 11 months 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 7019 times:

JETPILOT: when you say an 85 hour guarantee, is that 85 hrs. of FLYING time or TOTAL work time? And if they only fly 85 hrs. a month then what does a Pilot or FO do the rest of the time, assuming they work about 40 hrs a week?

Bruce Leibowitz - Jackson, MS (KJAN) - Canon 50D/100-400L IS lens

JETPILOT From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3130 posts, RR: 32
Reply 3, posted (13 years 11 months 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 7020 times:

The guarantee is the time you get paid to fly weather you fly them or not.

If you fly ten hours in a month you still get paid for the full guarantee. Those are flight hours and not time at work.

A pilot may work 100 hours to get 40 hours of flight time.

At my airline we have a 60 hour minimum pay guarantee for the month. But we also have 10 G days (guaranteed days off per month. These G days are all in a row. So the airline has 20 days per month to try and fly us the 60 hour guarantee. During that 20 day peiod we also have to meet the minimum crew rest times also.

That is why it is better to fly long trips than short ones. It is better to fly 6 10 hour trips then 10 6 hour trips. Thats 4 less trips to the airport, and 4 less preflights, and 4 less everything.

If you aren't going to break your monthly guarantee it is to the pilots advantage to work as little a spossible. If you fly 4 hours or 60 hours you still get the same pay.

If you do break your monthly guarantee then you get paid your hourly rate, which in my case is 58 per hour.

On my time off I sleep, sleep ,sleep. And on my G days I usually take advantage of my travel benefits and jumpseat all over the world. Ten days off in a row is alot. It sucks during the day when everyone has to work and there's no one to hang with.

Some companies have a 2 week on and 2 week off schedual. Imagine having 2 weeks off a month every month. I'd go even crazier.

Bruce From United States of America, joined May 1999, 5025 posts, RR: 17
Reply 4, posted (13 years 11 months 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 7020 times:

Sorry about all the questions..I'm just real curious about a Pilots' life. Does "flying hours" start from engine start to engine shutoff? or takeoff to landing?
A person in a "normal" job would work 160 hrs a month (40/week) so I guess working 100 hrs to get 60 flying isn't all that bad. But isn't it generally the more senior flight crews that get the 10hr. + flights such as overseas? A newer Pilot working for a discount Airline like Airtran or SW would be having takeoffs & landings all day.....

Bruce Leibowitz - Jackson, MS (KJAN) - Canon 50D/100-400L IS lens

JETPILOT From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3130 posts, RR: 32
Reply 5, posted (13 years 11 months 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 7020 times:

My airline pays from the aircraft starts to move under it's own power to the time it lands and get's hooked up to the tug again. That's called block time.

An example of a work schedual might be as follows.

Show up at operations for a 2 Am flight at 1 am. Prepare the paperwork and head to the plane. Preflight start the engines and get towed off the ramp.

2 1/2 hour block time from MIA-SJO.

1-1/2 Hour on the ground for loading, unloading, and fueling.

2 1/2 block time back.

Alaska737 From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 1056 posts, RR: 6
Reply 6, posted (13 years 11 months 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 7018 times:

I was wondering which airline you flew for. And thanks for the information about becoiming a pilot. I really appreciated it.

JETPILOT From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3130 posts, RR: 32
Reply 7, posted (13 years 11 months 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 7018 times:

I fly for Fine Airlines. But will soon be moving to new employment.

Bruce From United States of America, joined May 1999, 5025 posts, RR: 17
Reply 8, posted (13 years 11 months 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 7018 times:

Is it true that most new pilots start out with cargo lines and/or flying the overnight flights?

Bruce Leibowitz - Jackson, MS (KJAN) - Canon 50D/100-400L IS lens

Twa747100 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 600 posts, RR: 0
Reply 9, posted (13 years 11 months 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 7021 times:

"not nearly enough"
my dad
but ive heard the senior pilots at ual get like $400 a hr

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