A comparison of a pilot's income vs. other jobs

I'm so HAPPY you posted this instead of the typical comparion of the pilots income! I found this interesting the other day but was unsure how accurate it was? And or how you determine the amount of hours each company spends on the road?
 
777forever said:
haha, am i known for lengthening thread discussion now:laff:?
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Nah man! Everything you say we do really enjoy! Not being a smart you know what either! We really do enjoy your input as we do everyones! Even when we dont see eye to eye its what its all about right?
 
meyers9163 said:
Nah man! Everything you say we do really enjoy! Not being a smart you know what either! We really do enjoy your input as we do everyones! Even when we dont see eye to eye its what its all about right?
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:yeahthat:

Oh, and bro. Do you remember your first thread here on JC? Back when peeps thought you might be a troll. You entered JC starting 15 + page threads. Lol!

:) :laff:
 
Oh yea, the good old days, hehe. The funny thing is the guys I argue with the most are the ones i respect the most!
 
777forever said:
Oh yea, the good old days, hehe. The funny thing is the guys I argue with the most are the ones i respect the most!
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Eh, you can argue and have differing point of views and stil like and respect eanch other.

That said though, you and Jtrain must be on each others speed dial! Lol!
 
Not many people work 9-5 jobs anymore; still that paints a good picture. Now just add in the commute time three or four times a month.
 
It's really interesting how things break down if you account for time spent working but not paid.

If I'm working, I'm getting paid for it. The company owes me overtime if they work me over 40 hours a week. It doesn't matter if I'm doing something productive or sitting on my ass because there is nothing productive for me to do. I'm getting paid for it.

A pilot, though, only gets paid for PRODUCTIVE time. If he's sitting in the crew lounge because he's waiting for an airplane to come in, he's not getting paid.

But the barrista at the Starbucks in the airport is getting paid even if he's not making any drinks for anyone.

Kind of screwed up, eh?
 
tonyw said:
A pilot, though, only gets paid for PRODUCTIVE time. If he's sitting in the crew lounge because he's waiting for an airplane to come in, he's not getting paid.

But the barrista at the Starbucks in the airport is getting paid even if he's not making any drinks for anyone.

Kind of screwed up, eh?
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I know you were thinking of airline pilots, but we should keep in mind that not everyone is paid on the same basis as they are. I'm on a flat salary so I get paid the same whether I'm working or not. Today was the last of my six day *on* period, and I only flew three of those six. Pays the same as if I were gone for six days straight.
 
steve, i know its probably been said....but, "if they don't find you handsome, at least they'll find you handy."
 
tonyw said:
A pilot, though, only gets paid for PRODUCTIVE time. If he's sitting in the crew lounge because he's waiting for an airplane to come in, he's not getting paid.

But the barrista at the Starbucks in the airport is getting paid even if he's not making any drinks for anyone.

Kind of screwed up, eh?
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I'd love to see a similar pay structure for a majority (NOT ALL FOLKS!) of Government workers. It'd be hilarious.
 
SteveC said:
I know you were thinking of airline pilots, but we should keep in mind that not everyone is paid on the same basis as they are. I'm on a flat salary so I get paid the same whether I'm working or not. Today was the last of my six day *on* period, and I only flew three of those six. Pays the same as if I were gone for six days straight.
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That would be known as "reserve" in the 121 world, and we generally try to get off that ASAP :D. Partly due to pay, because it pays so crappy, and partly because we can't plan our life around it, being on 2-hour call out for 4-5 days at a stretch.

One thing I don't agree with the analysis is that it takes your TAFB and figures your effective hourly rate based upon that. That's like saying we should be getting paid while sleeping. I don't think any job will pay you your hourly wage for that (unless you sleep on the job :)).

I think a better comparison would be looking at a regular line holders monthly income and dividing that by your time on duty. Doing so, I make about 80% of my hourly rate per duty hour at the end of the month. Although flying zero while on reserve would yield an extremely high hourly duty rate (infinity...) so even that doesn't work in every situation.

In short, I don't think there is really any way to compare how pilots are paid with the rest of the general working world :).
 
Yeesh!

I would have to make a lot per hour to match pay as an airline pilot if I quit my job. Is 75 hours pretty standard?

Sure makes me like my job a bit more.

Why are pilot contracts paid like they are? I read the flying the lines and whatnot but i just don't see why pilots would have wanted to be paid only while flying. I expect to be paid at anytime(except transiting to and from my workplace) that my employer has the use of my time and I do not.
 
shooter13 said:
Yeesh!

I would have to make a lot per hour to match pay as an airline pilot if I quit my job. Is 75 hours pretty standard?
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No:). Unless you're sitting reserve, you can CREDIT 85-110 hours a month depending on where you work. That and per diem (time away from base - not technically income but money no less) leaves 75 hours in the dust. Some pilots elect to credit less time and have more days off, while others work their tails off and even pick up open time.

I am all for raising pilot pay - we shouldn't have to work all the time for respectable pay. However, 75 hours is not standard at most places unless you elect to bid low-time lines.

J.
 
OK thanks for the info.

For that little calculator thing, what should I put in as a normal amount of hours to try and get a real comparison?

I am having to fight off the pro flying bug again
 
No problem!

The answer to your question is "it depends." For example, I'm on reserve right now and will be for another six months or so. That's a year of min guarantee on 1st year pay. Once you hit the line, you might be making min guarantee until you're senior enough to bid higher-credit lines, but you'll be making per diem (again, not technically income, but money no less). After a couple years you're going to be anywhere from a mid-list FO or a CA depending on where you go. Such advancements equate to higher-credit lines or CA pay.

There is NO doubt that the first several years are rough. However, with some seniority, the power will be in your hands to credit more that 75 hours a month. If you do change careers, I'd save save save save now to get you through your rookie years... it will make all the difference in the world!

J.
 
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