Airline Pay
Only a few senior 747 captains at major airlines make the legendary 747 captain pay. However, according to the U.S. Occupational Outlook Handbook, the median earnings for professional pilots are $129,250 a year flying three days a week. Starting salaries are less, but the pay is exemplary, even though airlines have cut pilot salaries to reorganize the airline. The following is an actual case of a G&B student training for an airline position.
SCENARIO
LD started flight training early in 2003; in spite of weather considerations and family obligations, he completed his commercial pilot course and earned flight instructor status in 2004. LD invested $42,000.00 in flight training, including tuition, pilot supplies and equipment, and aircraft rental. LD kept his full time job while earning his commercial pilot ratings, along with his instructor ratings.
After 26 months in training and instructing, LD had earned 1000 hours of flight time, including 100 hours of multi-engine time. Some of the investment in flight training was offset with over $10,000.00 earnings from instruction of other students. LD was hired at Skywest in January 2005, earning $19.00 per hour as a first officer. A year later, LD advanced to $27.00 per hour, and due to the expansion of Skywest, LD received a captain position and $46.00 per hour in May 2006. After a 30-month program, LD earns over $55,000.00 per year with a work schedule of only 100 hours per month.
For air carrier pay scales refer to the links below.
The above scenario is not unusual or extraordinary. It points out the avenue available to any pilot who will make the investment of time and money to achieve a life style unavailable with other career choices. With any profession, career earnings are based on time and money invested. In other professions the time expended is longer and the cash investment is higher. Compared to a 4-year or 5-year professional career program, an airline pilot career is far less expensive, can be accomplished with considerably less investment, and higher earnings will begin much sooner.