Pilot Pay: A Closer Inspection

I feel so bad for those poor airline pilots...$148,000 a year and work only half the month to drive an airborne bus!!!

if u feel so bad, why dont u lend em your paycheck lol or... just stop being jealous and get a better job

To be fair, you should publish the lowest rates as well + explain that most commercial pilots spend half their careers making less than 40K as FO on smaller aircraft and regional jets.

I am not sure, but I think they are only "on the clock" from the time the jet pushes back from the gate until they arrive at the destination gate. I know some that are gone 18+ days per month and only receive 65 hours of pay. It sure is way more than working "half the month."

Do a Google search on the requirements to become a commercial pilot. They've paid their dues.

The constant barrage of ignorant comments regarding pilot compensation, including those from Sen. McCain a few years back, is pathetic. We spend a similar amount of time to qualify for the job as does an MD. or a lawyer. The compensation also used to be similar and the time off far greater but those days are gone. The job today is far more strenuous and frankly barely worth it any more taking into account the time away from home.

Typical pilot whiners bs.

I have friends that are pilots and they do nothing but whine when it come to how hard done by they are by their companies. They get screwed on leave, too many hours, blah, blah blah. Throw enough money and time at flying lessons and almost anyone with an once of smarts and common sense could fly big jets. Heck the terrorists did!

I spent 40 years in the cockpit for the USMC and PanAm. I never realized how lousy the job was until after I was bankrupted out of a job. Any pilot can earn as much pay in today's world as he makes at any airline and have a far better home life. By the time one makes Captain you have really paid your dues and battled management for your entire career.

To Pilot Pooper: Remember when the terrorist flew everyone DIED! Airline pilots make travel SAFE! Oh by the way, have you ever flown and landed a plane safely?

All comments so far posted miss a vital point. All terra firma based jobs do not have the risk inherent in atmospheric work. If the chair leg upon which you are sitting breaks, what's the worst that will happen to you? Or if your auto engine quits on the freeway? An aircraft structural, engine or systems failure could be quite hazadous to not only the pilots life but all the souls behind him or her. Not to mention severe weather. Get off the envy plane, posters!

Anyone who is not working for a part 121 carrier has no right to comment on airline pilot life, because you really don't know the pay structure or how many hoops we really have to jump through. To ... pilot pooper: Shut your ignorant mouth you have no idea, and Stan Meade, you are ignorant and misinformed as well.

Pilots' greatest asset is their seniority, all that experience. The gray around the temples, the four stripes the slow easy voice over the PA, "this is your Captain...". Sit back relax on your 12-hour flight over the pole or across the Pacific, you're on a state of the art 777 or A330. The guy up front has 25 years-plus. No flying the 737 for him and having to make a couple or maybe three takeoffs and landings a day two or three days a week. No sir, this guy may make three to four landings a month in a plane. All those landings and takeoffs just tire a guy out. Best left to the young bucks. Heck, if one needs to do that there is always a simulator. The "big bucks" are in flying the "heavies". Pilot pay is based on aircraft "productivity." Bigger plane- more people, more cargo, more pay.
Too bad those guys and gals with only ten years experience and 20/20 uncorrected are shooting approaches in crosswinds with 300 and a quarter. Sure is comfortable in this lay flat sleeper...rest easy, "this is your Captain."

Big Mac and Corkey -
Couple of things to think about about when you're at FL 370 and looking at the white puffies... major cause of commerical aviation accidents. Same time to qualify as MDs and lawyers. Let's leave out lawyers - how much do pilots pay in malpractice insurance? The only call a pilot gets at 0300 is from the crew desk, that his 0800 flt is canceld-but his contract insures that the flt hrs are paid. He guys don't press the misinformed buttons too much. Although all those switches and buttons start to look to alike after a while!
The lawyers handle the leading cause of "atmospheric"/CFIT situations and make a lot of money. -Captian Bob

"Anyone who is not working for a part 121 carrier has no right to comment on airline pilot life, because you really don't know the pay structure or how many hoops we really have to jump through."

What if you've worked for a Part 135 carrier with many of its pilots coming from 121 and knowing how they were paid there and how they should be scheduled and paid? Many of the hoops through which pilots have to jump are, sadly, created by their unions. Through seniority rules and long, arduous grievance processes, the unions or a scheduler who makes a mistake make everyone's life a living hell if there's a problem.

Ok the very first comment on here doesn't reflect the airline pilots away from home for 20 days a month and off for 10 making $19,000 a year. WOW gone for 20 days out of the month with only 2 more days off extra verses the average job with 8 off a month! Does that make you happy now instead of sad?

Alot of comments. Those of you passing negative comments here have no idea. I am now starting to train for the job I've dreamed about all of my life mostly because I've had the guts to do so. Those of you who have a negative comment about our complaints are those of whom who really don't understand the sacrifice. The fact is when I recieve my degree, my certificates, and I get my first job paying only 20k a year if I'm lucky. I will have spent well over 90k in training. 20k ha! I'll be lucky to make my student loan payments. For those of you sitting behind me (in an airplane), you do owe me. You owe me for my persistance, my time, my passion, and for making sure that the equipment I am flying will take and land safely with you and your family when we get to point B. For that I deserve to have an appreciative amount of compensation. If you have a problem with people moaning and groaning over pay un-deservingly then talk to the CEO's. If it was all about money I would take my 90k and become a high priced docter..

I'm with Mark on this. I'm a 19-year-old pilot in training, and the cash for the training is coming straight from my pocket. I have three jobs and can hardly get by, let alone my schooling and Embry Riddle is close to $30,000 per year! I love flying, and to tell you the truth when I'm in the cockpit it is up to ME and my hard work and training alone that says if you live or die. So stop complaining about the airlines and us snobby pilots, because we deserve to be pissed off sometimes.

Stan the man, Wish you could ride on the jumpseat for a month schedule with these guys! Give you a whole new outlook! You would wonder why anyone would do the job.

My respect goes to the pilots. Considering the amount of money, time and sacrifice that the young pilots have gone through AND getting the salary that they are getting is appalling. I did not know about their (starting) salaries until recently and I really really wish that the airline companies allowed the passengers to tip the crew if those bastards can't pay them decently! Hats off to you guys. I can understand that you have only taken up this job because of your passion to fly and I sincerely appreciate that.
Cheers!

I don't believe most of you people truly understand the amount of time and dedication it takes to become a professional airman. I'm training to get my certificate at 17 and I'm already feeling the workload that comes with this profession, however, that doesn't matter. The reward of having your office space at 35,000 feet and being in a service and leadership position is amazing. Talk to any legacy airline pilot the next time you want to cry about how much money you paid for your airfare. If you have a problem with how much airlines charge, which is what I suspect your problem is, visit your respective airline's website, and call their customer service line or write to their corporate office. Otherwise, you can start spending approximately hundreds of thousands of dollars on training, working overnights, and being in good enough physical shape to qualify for a 1st class medical certificate from the FAA. Join the club or buy your airfare and move on.