How much does the average pilot get payed?

Question

I'm considering becoming a pilot for an airline or something like that, so I was wondering if any experienced pilots could also tell me what it's like.

Answer 1

Nothing, no one wants to hire an average pilot. You have to be at the top of your game, remember that, study hard.

Answer 2

You really don't become a pilot to make a lot of money.

Answer 3

Pilots pay starts at insulting low levels, usually in the low 20s, but after the first year it grows greatly. Most airlines pay twice as much after the first year, but then it doesnt really increase that much per year. It would take another 10 years for your pay to double again.

Answer 4

I've read that senior pilot captains of the big companies, e.g. Boeing, making 200 thousand a year.

Starting salaries for copilots is around 50 thousand a year for large airliners.

Regional airliners start around 35 thousand and go up to 125 thousand.

Answer 5

Regional Airlines: $20,000 - $80,000'ish.  It could take 10 years to get to 80K.  If you wind up being a career regional pilot (very high probability of that happening), then it's possible to reach $100K once you top out the payscale (15-20 years).

Major Airlines: $30,000 - one or two hundred grand.  Keep in mind, it is very difficult to make it to this level in this day and age.  It will take you many years to reach a 6 figure salary, unless you can get on with a company like FedEx or UPS.

The $200,000+ saleries and 25 days off a month lifestyles you hear about are only obtained by those lucky enough to be able to put in 25-30 years at one single airline.

What it's like?  You'll be gone...a lot.  Some people love it, many hate it.  The pay sucks for most of your career and the lifestyle wears on you after a while, especially if you have a family.  It's also a very unstable job.  I've flown with first officers who had 18+ years seniority at a large US airline and got furloughed.  They were now making half my (5 figure) salary and pulling my landing gear.  Still, it can be a fun job at times.

Answer 6

I began at about $250/week flying out of Boston for a commuter air carrier .