Per Diem Question

TravDK

TravDK

Well-Known Member
This must have been covered a million times, but my search on old threads didn't work... sorry.

With a regional, they pay is well... anyways. How much can one expect to add over the base pay with per diem of 1.40 / hr. I know it will vary, but some ball park figure will help in some decision making.

Thanks!!!
 
My guess is somewhere between $0-$8,000.

Keep in mind per diem is not pay so don't count on it.
 
8,000 would work! Trying to crunch some numbers. My hat is off to regional guys who have to pay all their bills. The numbers make my stomach hurt. I have 'heard' of some guys stating they made around 30K their first year at a regional due to per diem and over time.
 
Like you said, it varies. Being a lineholder or being reserve can make a difference. Mine was usually between $200-$400/month (Reserve!)


BTW, why did you ask about $1.40/hr? You thinking about Colgan, as that is their rate. In that case, I believe at Colgan you only get per diem when you are overnighting somewhere. Not per diem for out and backs.
 
BTW, why did you ask about $1.40/hr? You thinking about Colgan, as that is their rate. In that case, I believe at Colgan you only get per diem when you are overnighting somewhere. Not per diem for out and backs.[/QUOTE]


I grabbed that number from Colgan on airlinepilotcentral. I thought that their pay was a good representation of regional pay these days.
To lifestyle changes... :beer:
 
TravDK said:
8,000 would work! Trying to crunch some numbers. My hat is off to regional guys who have to pay all their bills. The numbers make my stomach hurt. I have 'heard' of some guys stating they made around 30K their first year at a regional due to per diem and over time.
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Never count on more then monthly guarantee. I know it sucks but it will make your life a lot easier. I worked the system my first year and made about 32K without per diem, but the guy one senior to me made 21K.

FYI: Per Diem is $1.80 at Eagle.
 
FlyingPoke said:
Per Diem = not pay (unless you've figured out a way to not eat and survive)
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My wife has to buy food to eat and doesn't get per diem.

How does that work?

It's pay. Anything that pays my bills is income. Maybe the government doesn't count it as income, but it all goes to the same pot (ie my bank account).

IIRC I made around $4k my first year in per diem.
 
Trip7 said:
Per diem=tax free income

Otherwise it wouldn't be on your paycheck
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Unless it's day trips or CDO/standups/highspeeds. Then it's taxable. Even then, if I can't count on it from month to month, it doesn't go in my budget.

My non-tax per diem for last year (just happen to have my last pay stub next to me) was $3119.24. Taxable was 477.33. That's reserve at 9E who also pays $1.40/hr. I flew about 604:03 minutes for the year, give or take.
 
Take it with a grain of salt or two, but for the past 3 years at $1.65 per hour I have made approximately $4000 a year in per diem. Like the others said, it depends on what type of trips you hold and if you hold a line vs. reserve.
 
wheelsup said:
My wife has to buy food to eat and doesn't get per diem.

How does that work?

It's pay. Anything that pays my bills is income. Maybe the government doesn't count it as income, but it all goes to the same pot (ie my bank account).

IIRC I made around $4k my first year in per diem.
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Does your wife's job require her to be out of town and pay out of pocket for her meal expenses? If so she should be working hard to get on a per diem or expense account.

It costs more to eat on the road, thus why you are paid back for it (and most of the time not enough to cover the actual cost of eating fair food on the road)... I dont think of it as pay but them providing me with what I need to stay alive while meeting the requirements of my job (being on the road).
 
kellwolf said:
Unless it's day trips or CDO/standups/highspeeds. Then it's taxable. Even then, if I can't count on it from month to month, it doesn't go in my budget.

My non-tax per diem for last year (just happen to have my last pay stub next to me) was $3119.24. Taxable was 477.33. That's reserve at 9E who also pays $1.40/hr. I flew about 604:03 minutes for the year, give or take.
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Yeah you're right. Daytrips are taxable. Definitely agree not to count on it unless you're a lineholder.
 
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