jtrain609
Antisocial Monster
So if you waltz into Skywest right now with 1,500 hours and get on the 'Bro you could be upgrading in just a tad over a year eh? Erm...I mean a year ago you could do this?
Analyzing Pilot Pay
- Thread starter meritflyer
- Start date
So if you waltz into Skywest right now with 1,500 hours and get on the 'Bro you could be upgrading in just a tad over a year eh? Erm...I mean a year ago you could do this?
scramjet
Well-Known Member
I'm no expert, but according to the pay charts at airlinepilotcentral.com, a 15+ years captain can still make up to around $210k depending on the company.
At a major that is.
scramjet
Well-Known Member
BTW, it's nice to see a little optimism on the pay subject. 
I mean, I'm going into flying for the sake of an exciting and fun career path not just for the money (you can't be in the industry just for the money IMHO), but that's the way I've always felt when I saw the lower wages: just tough it out a year or two and pretty soon you'll be able to afford some spaghetti (and maybe a house or something haha).
I mean, I'm going into flying for the sake of an exciting and fun career path not just for the money (you can't be in the industry just for the money IMHO), but that's the way I've always felt when I saw the lower wages: just tough it out a year or two and pretty soon you'll be able to afford some spaghetti (and maybe a house or something haha).If you spend your career with a regional, you can definately see $100K+ at some point. Like I said, I know a guy who is an 8 yr CA at XJT, and he pulls in $95K.
At a major, senior CA's are still making near $200K, and at some majors, over $200K. Senior FO's are probably making ~$100K.
In response to another post:
I wouldn't say that his doctor brother is working only 4 days per week. Many doctors work 6 days per week, some 7. Many doctors put in a lot of long hours, that can be very stressful.
On the other hand, I know senior CA's at regionals who are pulling in $80-$90K+, flying as little as they can, with 18-19 days off per month. I think with any career, you start somewhere, low on the totem pole, and work your way up.
GaTechKid
Well-Known Member
Perhaps, but the reason upgrade is < 1 yr on the 'Bro is because SKW is skipping a bunch of pilots who don't have the 2500 TT. In another year there won't be that problem.
meritflyer
Well-Known Member
I have heard from a good friend who is a senior (10 years) captain at SKYW, the upgrade on the Bro is around a 12-14 months but most new hires are getting the RJ as SKYW has just brought on the new 900s and are picking up some ASA flying.
Bumblebee
Commodore
1000 in a "crew" environment (not necessarily type) and 2500 TT. I had 1500 when hired and 100 in a crew environment. It is possible that I could upgrade as soon as I hit the 2500 TT mark if we are still hurting for Captains. As far as QOL it is likely that I would stay FO, transition to the jet and enjoy more pay while junior pilots make captain, then when I can hold a line at my chosen base upgrade as a lineholder . . . lots of options.
meritflyer
Well-Known Member
Okay, just got off the phone with my CA friend from SKYW. In his 10th year he made $106,000. I'd say thats not shabby at all!
meritflyer
Well-Known Member
Whoa.. whoa, back up. $105K at a major as a Captain?
No way?!? I cant believe that.
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
FWIW, as a just turned second year FO, September's paycheck was 98:11 credit, 363 hours per diem. That's $3,470 hourly and $545 in per diem, for a total compensation of $4,015. Either include or don't include per diem based on how you eat on trips. I save it; others eat like rock stars.
Obviously, I bid to work that month. Looking back I only had 13 days off. It sucked. The pay was welcome though. Regional pilots generally work more than their major counterparts.
As far as timing out goes, I FAR blocked 88 hours, so I really wouldn't be in too much danger of timing out. And who cares if I do - I still get paid for my line if I time out in Dec and guarantee if I time out in Nov (full pay in Nov and guarantee for Dec). The only thing I wouldn't get is per diem (although I hear skywest doesn't pay you if you time out...).
I know what all of you are thinking, can this trend continue? I bid to NOT work in October and ended up going to work 3 days with a gross for that month including per diem of $2,830 and $105 for per diem ($2,935). People junior to me were getting lines with 95 hours credit though. So I would say yes if you are willing to work. Once you get a little senority I don't think the pay is 'horrible' but you do have to be willing to work for it. Base pay on second year salary is just $32k/yr here. Although show me a job where you can be on 2-day callout 14-15 days/month, not work a single one, and still pull $32k
.
The pay isn't my main concern - it's the industry upset that puts us each against each other. Without any kind of "real" job security I am scared my job will be gone one day. I am also scared that I will be a 5 year FO, and then the company will come crashing down a la Mesaba. While I have better job security than some areas of aviation do (say supplmental 121, charter, some 91 jobs) it still isn't great, and in 8 years the US Air contract is up. Where will my company and the rest of the industry be then? Who knows.
Obviously, I bid to work that month. Looking back I only had 13 days off. It sucked. The pay was welcome though. Regional pilots generally work more than their major counterparts.
As far as timing out goes, I FAR blocked 88 hours, so I really wouldn't be in too much danger of timing out. And who cares if I do - I still get paid for my line if I time out in Dec and guarantee if I time out in Nov (full pay in Nov and guarantee for Dec). The only thing I wouldn't get is per diem (although I hear skywest doesn't pay you if you time out...).
I know what all of you are thinking, can this trend continue? I bid to NOT work in October and ended up going to work 3 days with a gross for that month including per diem of $2,830 and $105 for per diem ($2,935). People junior to me were getting lines with 95 hours credit though. So I would say yes if you are willing to work. Once you get a little senority I don't think the pay is 'horrible' but you do have to be willing to work for it. Base pay on second year salary is just $32k/yr here. Although show me a job where you can be on 2-day callout 14-15 days/month, not work a single one, and still pull $32k
.The pay isn't my main concern - it's the industry upset that puts us each against each other. Without any kind of "real" job security I am scared my job will be gone one day. I am also scared that I will be a 5 year FO, and then the company will come crashing down a la Mesaba. While I have better job security than some areas of aviation do (say supplmental 121, charter, some 91 jobs) it still isn't great, and in 8 years the US Air contract is up. Where will my company and the rest of the industry be then? Who knows.
GrantHubbell
New Member
If you want to make the big bucks consider Wall Street. I-Bankers first year (anaylsts) probally pull in 85-105K in total first year compensation. That includes bonus, and salary. Not bad and it gets even better with an MBA. I once read somewhere that the average comensation for employees at Goldman Sachs was 521,000K per year. But its not about the money, its all about satisfaction!!!
intern_mike
E-175 f/o
The way I see it, it's the 15 days per month i'm not flying that give me a chance to make extra cash. Real estate perhaps?
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
If that is your plan, I would probably look more into one of the 135 freight companies. A company like Ameriflight or other UPS/DHL feeder generally has early morning departures, long layovers during the day, and then late evening depatures. So you could "commute" to an outstation, get a job during the day at said outstation, and then "commute" back at night, M-F. A friend of mine was planning to do that. The freight gig started at low $30's and he had a job lined up M-F making $25k while on the layover.
If you go the regional route, even though you have more "days off" you'll be working on them, unless you have something you can do on hotel layovers.
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
Just so people on here don't think that working a side business will get you fired, the Mesa FA in question I believe was caught prostituting.
surreal1221
Well-Known Member
Wheels, two day call out eh?
Mind to explain to this newbie? You can via PM if you wish.
Mind to explain to this newbie? You can via PM if you wish.
Cheechako
Well-Known Member
Alaska ANC 737-4/NG:
21 Lines, 38 pilots on the FO list.
Average Line: 82.25 hours
Average Days Off: 15.38
Trip Mix:
22 1-day trips
19 2-day trips
2 3-day trips
37 4-day trips
Lines include a mix of the above trips (4-day trip, days off, couple locals, days off, two day trip, etc.)
ANC crews are getting the ETOPS certification, so every four day trip has SEA-CUN, SEA-PVR or SEA-EWR in it as "practice" ETOPS runs (not sure if they're actually planning them as ETOPS flights, or just getting the crews used to carrying an extra newspaper for the longer flights).
I'm not going to go through the 253 SEA lines, but their average line is 83.19 hours. Days off looks like a high of 18, a low of 11, most 14-16. Trip mix is 1-4 days with the 2-3 day trips occuring the most.
Here's something I posted a couple years ago that gives a good picture of the regional guy's pay:
http://forums.jetcareers.com/showthread.php?p=178539#post178539
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
My company treats relief lines like hard lines - IE no reserve. Instead of putting "reserve" days on your relief schedule, they put what's called "Long Call" days. Relief lines all vary and could have 0 Long Call days or 15. Long Call days are essentially reserve days, but instead of the usual 2 hour call out time frame they have to give you a minimum of 2 days notice and don't require you be next to your phone when they call. It's great when there are more then enough pilots to cover flying, because the Long Call pilots generally are used to cover any open time flying or long term things like someone quitting at the beginning of the month. It can backfire though if staffing gets short - you have to really know when to bid for them or you could get screwed.
So far I've bid and have been awarded about 40 Long Call days and have flown only two of them in my year here. It's great if you can afford to live on min guarantee/no per diem or if you have some secondary income. Sometimes I like to take a break, and going on Long Call allows me to do it.