KingAirMan From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 291 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 21297 times:
I searched in the forums but couldnt find this topic ( i am NEW at this so apologize if i didnt do it right ) , But what is the starting salary for a regional airline pilot? Average salary, and so on . Benefits? etc.
474218 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 6340 posts, RR: 10 Reply 1, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 21284 times:
There is an excellent answer in Tech Ops under "Pilots Pay Packet".
MPDPilot From United States of America, joined Jul 2006, 934 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 21273 times:
COERJ145 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 1420 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 21223 times:
Go to Airlinepilotcentral.com. They have almost all of the major, cargo and regional pilot pay scales.
Lowrider From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 3220 posts, RR: 11 Reply 4, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 21181 times:
15k to 22k a year, typically. Airlinepilotcentral.com info is usually accurate but does not refect diffferences in work rules.
Usnseallt82 From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 4891 posts, RR: 55 Reply 5, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 21173 times:
474218 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 6340 posts, RR: 10 Reply 6, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 21120 times:
Quoting Lowrider (Reply 4): 15k to 22k a year, typically. Airlinepilotcentral.com info is usually accurate but does not refect diffferences in work rules.
Aircraft cleaners make more than 15K to 22K a year.
FlyDeltaJets From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 1623 posts, RR: 3 Reply 8, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 21001 times:
Quoting 474218 (Reply 6): Aircraft cleaners make more than 15K to 22K a year.
Futurecaptain From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 20878 times:
This is why alot of starting pilots have second jobs. For all the schooling we go through and all the student loan debt we aquire the job just doesn't pay off for several long years.
N766UA From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 7991 posts, RR: 27 Reply 11, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 20799 times:
Quoting 474218 (Reply 6): Aircraft cleaners make more than 15K to 22K a year.
Not any of the ones I know, but I see your point.
Remember, pilots are not salaried, they are paid per "flight hour," usually brake off to brake on.
Lucky42 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 12, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 14 hours ago) and read 20634 times:
Not to really get off topic but my 2 cents if people were not willing to work in aviaiton for nothing, pilots F/A's and mechanics maybe it would not be in the state it is in today. The "glory" of aviation allows these CEO scumbags to get away with raping the employees of all these airlines because anyone is so willing to step into these jobs and they get disillusioned when they find out how it really is but the damage has already been done.
Lowrider From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 3220 posts, RR: 11 Reply 13, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 20487 times:
Quoting Lucky42 (Reply 12): The "glory" of aviation allows these CEO scumbags to get away with raping the employees of all these airlines because anyone is so willing to step into these jobs and they get disillusioned when they find out how it really is but the damage has already been done.
Accurate, but it won't get much mileage here. The bulk of the folks here think that airline employees, especially pilots, should work for little to nothing because "it is the best job in the world" and "they get to fly".
Lucky42 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 20469 times:
Quoting Lowrider (Reply 13): Accurate, but it won't get much mileage here. The bulk of the folks here think that airline employees, especially pilots, should work for little to nothing because "it is the best job in the world" and "they get to fly".
FSPilot747 From United States of America, joined Oct 1999, 3599 posts, RR: 14 Reply 15, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 20466 times:
Quoting N766UA (Reply 11):
Remember, pilots are not salaried, they are paid per "flight hour," usually brake off to brake on.
Not at Mesa. If the flight is scheduled for 45 minutes and the plane is delayed coming in, you wait an hour, get on the airplane, there is a groundstop, wait another hour, then get to Chicago or wherever and you have to hold for WX, and the whole deal takes 3 hours. Guess what, you get paid for 45 min of time. Which, as a first year at Mesa, is a bit over what, $10.00 or so.
Usnseallt82 From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 4891 posts, RR: 55 Reply 16, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 11 hours ago) and read 20436 times:
Quoting FSPilot747 (Reply 15): Guess what, you get paid for 45 min of time. Which, as a first year at Mesa, is a bit over what, $10.00 or so.
This is why you get a wife to work while you're busy racking up hours and seniority.
Remember, pilots are not salaried, they are paid per "flight hour," usually brake off to brake on.
Not at Mesa. If the flight is scheduled for 45 minutes and the plane is delayed coming in, you wait an hour, get on the airplane, there is a groundstop, wait another hour, then get to Chicago or wherever and you have to hold for WX, and the whole deal takes 3 hours. Guess what, you get paid for 45 min of time. Which, as a first year at Mesa, is a bit over what, $10.00 or so.
Again kind of sums up my point about people working in this industry for peanuts for the "glory" of aviation or in this case a better paying job which will never happen the way things are going....
Squawk0303 From United States of America, joined Jul 2006, 39 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 20262 times:
this is rather reassuring, maybe I should drop out of the flight program before its too late. hehe
JBirdAV8r From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 4459 posts, RR: 22 Reply 19, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 20055 times:
Quoting Usnseallt82 (Reply 16): This is why you get a wife to work while you're busy racking up hours and seniority.
Amen! And that's why I'm dating someone in pharmacy school.
(And before anyone asks, NO, it's not about the money)
Quoting Squawk0303 (Reply 18): this is rather reassuring, maybe I should drop out of the flight program before its too late. hehe
You could just do it the cheaper way, at your friendly local FBO, than paying out the *^$@*& for one of those fancy places...
Aeroplan73 From Canada, joined May 2006, 165 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 19975 times:
Quoting Lowrider (Reply 13): Accurate, but it won't get much mileage here. The bulk of the folks here think that airline employees, especially pilots, should work for little to nothing because "it is the best job in the world" and "they get to fly".
I figure the senior pilots are well paid for the times things don't go smoothly. 'Best job in the world' or not, thats a heck of a lot of resonsibility to shoulder at 37000 feet.
I remember, the choices were chicken or fish. I had the lasagna.
JFKLGANYC From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 2650 posts, RR: 5 Reply 21, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 19891 times:
"Not at Mesa. If the flight is scheduled for 45 minutes and the plane is delayed coming in, you wait an hour, get on the airplane, there is a groundstop, wait another hour, then get to Chicago or wherever and you have to hold for WX, and the whole deal takes 3 hours. Guess what, you get paid for 45 min of time. Which, as a first year at Mesa, is a bit over what, $10.00 or so."
Sorry . . . but that's only at MESA.
At every other airline I know of, you would get paid 3 hrs from parking brake release to parking brake set.
While RJ pilot pay is bad, MESA pay and treatment of its pilots is nothing short of a disgrace.
Joke's on MESA though. The majors are starting to dump them. Cheapest is always the better route.
Tugger From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 4629 posts, RR: 7 Reply 22, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 19529 times:
Quoting JBirdAV8r (Reply 19): Amen! And that's why I'm dating someone in pharmacy school. Wink
(And before anyone asks, NO, it's not about the money)
Of course now we think your dating her for the drugs!
I don't how pilots do it, they go through soo much crap to get to the "good" job (usually). Hopefully the one thing it does ensure is that the person who gets to that "good" job really has a passion for flying and thereby is the better pilot (though I know that isn't completely true either).
Tug
I don’t know that I am unafraid to be myself, but it is hard to be somebody else. -W. Shatner
TokyoNarita From Palau, joined Aug 2003, 570 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (6 years 8 months 1 week 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 19171 times:
ASA dispatcher pay scale.
Year 1 $31000
Year 2 $33000
Year 3 $34000
Year 15 $51000
by the third year I made $42000 including overtime.
TokyoNarita.
25 SoonerLT: Cry me a river! If you're a pilot in the military, the pay is certainly nothing to scoff at. You don't pay for medical, you get BAH for housing, you
26 YHMYYZspotter: Is that in US funds? If it is, 42000US per year after 3 years with overtime seems quite good.
27 FLY2LIM: Yes, but that is the salary for aircraft cleaners who are veterans, and they don't have benefits, etc. The other perk, of course, is that the only "f
28 AirWillie6475: AirlinePilotCentral.com Highest payed regional is Skywest follwed by Horizon. Skywest pilots on 1st year make 30K, junior Captains make about 70K, 10
29 Jpax: Definitely drop out ASAP if you are doing it for the money.
30 Usnseallt82: True, but flying in the military is nothing like graduating from ERAU or UND. Kinda negates your argument. Hmm...tell my wife that.
31 FSPilot747: No. First year Skywest pilots make 17,100 per monthly guarantee, and 1st year junior guys don't have the kind of opportunities to rake in higher bloc
32 SoonerLT: I don't really see how. I don't have to BE a pilot to know how much they get paid, which was the gist of my post.
33 Usnseallt82: No, but it helps to know what they have to go through to get where they are. Likewise, it helps to know how much more is expected of a military pilot
34 SoonerLT: Exactly. I have a pretty good idea. I'm the exec for an A-10 squadron. I agree, the responsibilities grow at a faster rate in the military than they
35 MCOflyer: Agreed, I hear RP pays pretty good. What will pilots who fly the 190 make at US? MCOflyer
36 FSPilot747: Regional Pilot rates. The guys at US are practically already making regional rates ever since they got taken with their over 50% cuts and 11 year sen
37 FSPilot747: Hey get this, USAir EMB190 payscale is actually BELOW regional rates. You top out more flying the Brazilian at RP than at USAir. Holy cow! RP 175/190
38 Rolfen: AFAIK, pilot salaries are pretty good, up there with doctors and other well paid professions.
39 FSPilot747: You must not know many doctors or lawyers. I know a lot because they're all in my family. 10 years ago, you could probably compare a 25-year 747 capt
40 COERJ: Is anyone ever imediately accepted into mainline, or do you have to go with regional first. How long do you usually have to stay in regional before yo
41 FSPilot747: No. We don't have cadet programs in the United States like I believe some European/Asian countries had or Have. I believe Lufthansa might have a cert
42 RoseFlyer: That's a joke. I earned more as an intern at an aerospace company than someone who has been flying regional jets for a few years. Starting salary in
43 Lowrider: No longer the case in the US, never was for regional pilots. You may never get to a mainline. Even if you do, a mainline holds no promise of job secu
44 Rolfen: I actually made then comment because of a table from this page: http://www.bls.gov/emp/optd/home.htm Thats from the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of
45 AirWillie6475: No sorry dude, youre missinformed why don't you get to know a few pilots before making idiotic reubuttals. And who said 120K at Pinnacle? I know some
46 AirWillie6475: I agree with your last statement, this is not the type of job you go into for money, you have to love it. I don't agree with the rest, airline pilots
47 AirWillie6475: Not in the US, it's impossible now to go from training to a major airline job. In other parts of the world it is possible but it's because they don't
48 FSPilot747: I don't know how to say this politely, dude, but I'll try. You are so outrageously misinformed that it hurts to read what you write. I only wish you
49 AirWillie6475: Where did you go to school? When you don't agree with something you back it up instead of saying "dude" and other BS. What don't you agree with?[Edit
50 FSPilot747: You think pilots make 350K you're living a fantasy. And to think most doctors make less than 100K a year, you need common sense, not me to back it up
51 Futurecaptain: And remember that airline pilots are limited to 1000 hours of paid work every year. So even at the top of the pay scale if you could somehow fly exac
52 Ralgha: They're limited to 1000 hours of block time, not credit time. I average 70-80 hours of block a month and 100+ of credit.
53 Jpax: It could just be my personal opinion, but calling someone who is 5 years older than you a kid and telling that very same person who is a CFII/MEI to
54 JFKLGANYC: "I don't know how to say this politely, dude, but I'll try. You are so outrageously misinformed that it hurts to read what you write. I only wish you
55 TheGreatChecko: I'd avoid that place if you want to like being a pilot anymore. Its hard to not let the negativity rub off on you. There are many better places to go
56 NFLSaintsChris: Let me set a few things straight about regional airline pay. First year first officers at most regional airlines will make about $25,000. This is not
57 474218: The majority will be flown by the people flying C-5's, C-17's C-130's F-15's, F-16's, F-18's, B-1's, B-2's, B-52's and similar aircraft today. The mi
58 NFLSaintsChris: Average salary of a doctor in this country is $216,000. Many doctors make $150,000 or less. Are there doctors making less than $100,000? Maybe, somew
59 FSPilot747: You know, when you were making double what you used to make, it's a big change in lifestyle. You've quoted all of those wrong, somehow. Maybe the sys
60 Lowrider: That is misleading, and you sound like you should be in a position to know better. Only a fraction of currently employed regional pilots will ever se
62 Crogalski: a big influence of pilots pay is decided by the price people pay for tickets.
63 ZOTAN: You really need to check your facts. 350k? Give me a break. The average pay at all those airlines is all under 100k. The highest paid is in the 160-1
64 COERJ: Thank You- Your post was very helpful and informing.
65 AirWillie6475: Senior Fedex pilots can make over 300K if they want to. Why would I make stuff UP?[Edited 2006-09-16 23:31:26]
66 AirWillie6475: Yea that's what I said, they don't make what they used to.
68 Usnseallt82: Check YOUR facts, kid... http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos107.htm#earnings Have a problem with these facts? Tell the U.S. Department of Labor.
69 AirWillie6475: Zotan above is basing his post on a website. And making a blanket statement like ALL those airline pilots make under 100K. Obviously he doesn't know m
70 Usnseallt82: Some of us ARE pilots and know exactly how much the industry is churning out. You may have good information from some, but realize that one or two hi
71 AirWillie6475: I agree I'm just trying to say that the pay doesn't top out at 100k like some have maid it out to be in this thread. All of the people I know are maki
72 FSPilot747: Well that's much different than saying the average for (insert several random airlines here) is between 100-350K. Very senior FedEx guys, maybe some
73 AirWillie6475: It's not several random airlines, I chose Fedex UPS and Southwest because pilots at those airlines do average those numbers. After a few years and Fed
74 Onetogo: I was told by a captain at UPS that senior captains can easily make over 250,000 per year.
75 MPDPilot: I hope you mean majors because mesa and comair both have programs that guarantee an interview at the end of your training. I have heard that less tha
76 JFKLGANYC: "The majority will be flown by the people flying C-5's, C-17's C-130's F-15's, F-16's, F-18's, B-1's, B-2's, B-52's and similar aircraft today. The mi
77 KingAirMan: I dont know if this is true BUT, I heard if a two canidates are competing for a job, and have the same hours in type or category, etc, that if they we
78 AirWillie6475: Military pilots are more valued than regional captains period, it's not all about how many hours you have in your log book. Military pilots have prove
79 AA777: My question is about the monthly guarantee... every airline has one, and its usually about 65-80 hours a month guaranteed, from what I have seen. But
80 FSPilot747: His question involved going straight to mainline, so yeah I meant majors. Cadet programs, as far as I know, involve the airlines paying for all your
81 NFLSaintsChris: There was a time when pilots flying 747's, and other widebody aircraft on international flights, could make $300,000 and only work 10 days per month.
82 KingAirMan: Judging by the age in your profile and some of your past remarks that you have commented about in other forums that I have seen, I think you lack sup
83 Crogalski: 350k might be pushing it bigtime, but with WN, I could believe it. I know a WN pilot at my flight school, he told me he made over $210k last year
84 NFLSaintsChris: That is not true. First officers at SWA, UPS, and FedEx make over $100,000 after a couple of years. Captains at these airline can make $200,000 to $2
85 VEEREF: We're all just a bunch of overpaid crybabies who singlehandedly bankrupt airlines and we should just be glad we fly airplanes! Minimum wage is plenty!
86 COERJ145: Great Lakes is lowest. Starting pay $15 per hour for F/O's first year. Around 13K per year. Starting at OO and YV is $19 per hour first year.
87 NFLSaintsChris: I don't think anybody is saying that. Salaries we as pilot see are no different than salaries seen by a majority of other career fields. Major pilots
88 EssentialPowr: What diff do those schools make? It is just like a commissioning source...The academy grads' education cost a lot more $$ than a ROTC or OCS guy, but
89 NFLSaintsChris: Most pilots fly 85-90 hours per month, and many get credit for more than that. A majority of pilots fly more than the "minimum". Basically, a minimum
90 FXramper: AA Sr International Captain with 29 years senority. 757/767 Check Airman, ORD based FFDO Annual salary $300,000+
92 EssentialPowr: Civilian pilots exceeded military pilots hired by the majors circa 1997, ref Air Inc/Kit Darby, so no, most widebodys in 15 years will be flown mainl
93 Usnseallt82: I agree.....completely. However, some aren't and it might be prudent to heed to some of the advice given by those who have proven themselves.
94 KingAirMan: Glad some other people got my point as well! people giving bad data- you know who you are . .
95 SlamClick: Way too absolute a statement to be allowed to stand unchallenged. Given equal education they'd be about a wash. There are, however, quite a few regio
96 EssentialPowr: The # of non 4 year degree regional captains is declining sharply...Why? Because of the 1000s of them competing for the same seat at the majors, and
101 EssentialPowr: Is this the single dumbest statement ever posted on this forum?
102 ShortSquat: A handy comparison sheet of US commercial pilot hourly rates can be found here: http://airlinepilotcentral.com/optio...ask,cat_view/gid,21/Itemid,85.h
103 EssentialPowr: Nobody is counting anyone out...the "us" will hopefully becomes the "we" once you get hired...does it make you feel any better to know that black sho
104 BrowntailWhale: 2005 UPS Captain average pay $219,313 2005 UPS F/O average pay $113,396 2005 UPS Captain highest pay $313,813
105 Apodino: At my company my base salary is about $31,000, with all the overtime I have worked this year and will work I will be above $40,000 at the end of the
106 Usnseallt82: We call black shoes SWO's around here, so I hope to God that isn't the case.
107 Coerj: I have a few questions on seniority and advancement within an airline.- When a captain from a regional airline is accepted into a mainline airline, fl
108 KAUSpilot: No, although it depends on the agreement. Once upon a time, COEX pilots kep their seniority when they flowed through to CAL. Now, there is no flowthr
110 Call911mfc: I'm a firefighter and work 192 hours a month, which is actually a shorter schedule for a FF. Not sure about your 90 hrs a month line, unless I'm misr
111 Flyboy14295: Off topic but still about salaries, how much would ATC get paid? A lot less than a pilot. I was thinking about becoming an ATC in the TRACON but the p
112 NFLSaintsChris: Do what you would enjoy doing most. I think ATC salaries are comparable to pilots, but since they are FAA, and hence government, they probably get a
114 EssentialPowr: Well, there are quite a few SWOs in the majors. Be nice; if things work out for you, and if you get hired, you might be able to pull the gear for one
115 JasperEMA: So starting rates at Mesa are less than a bus driver in the UK is this for real?
116 Falstaff: After reading this I don't feel so bad about my profession. I teach auto shop in a high school and make $40,000 I was just bumped up to that at the en
117 ARGIEPILOT: For those of you that are having doubts about pursuing/continuing in the airline pilot profession in the U.S. my main thought is: If, like most of us,
118 EssentialPowr: The mystique wears off, and it is a great job but a horrible career. Hopefully one's airline won't furlough, or disappear entirely...
119 Usnseallt82: Don't know if that's impressive or horrific. Haha....them are fightin' words where I come from. Thanks...been here a few years, but will always take
120 EssentialPowr: We'll see about that now, won't we?
121 BO__einG: Very interesting thread. I just spent like over an hour reading everything that you guys have posted. I am also familiar with pilot pays and salaries
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