How much do pilots make?

One of the most common questions many aspiring pilots ask is how much commercial pilots make? The answer is anything but straight forward, but is probably a good figure to get in mind before delving into flight school applications.

While yes, most pilots make a sizable income, there are a myriad of factors which may vary a pilot’s final salary. You may even be surprised to learn that not all pilots are paid the same.

While many airline pilot’s can generally expect to make a six figure income during their career, it helps to have a working understanding of the factors effecting compensation. Let’s take a closer look:

Regional Airline Salaries: $40,000 – $100,000

Most pilots start their airline career by flying for a regional air carrier. These companies fly shorter, less frequented routes representing larger airlines. Aircraft are generally smaller, carrying no more than 75 passengers, and operate on a contractual basis. Many pilots start at these carriers to gain experience before getting hired at a more lucrative major air carrier. These positions require a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight experience to obtain. Pilots will typically work for 3-5 years in these roles.  See a few examples of regional airline salaries: 

FIRST OFFICER SALARIES: 

CAPTAIN SALARIES: 

Major Airline Salaries: $100,000 – $300,000

The ultimate goal of most pilots is to work for a major airline. These companies, some known as legacy carriers, have the highest paying salaries and benefits. They operate larger, higher capacity aircraft and fly longer routes. Pilots at these companies will typically work for these carriers for the longevity of their careers allowing them to move up the payscales, ending their career making a significant income. 

FIRST OFFICER SALARIES: 

CAPTAIN SALARIES: 

Understanding Airline Pilot Pay

Not all airlines pay their pilot’s the same. Most often; however, compensation is credited based on the crew members flight time. This is typically calculated using the time between the opening and closing of the aircraft’s main door between destinations.

When pilots are away from their “home-base”, they may also be entitled to something referred to as per deim. This small allowance is used to cover daily living expenses, and while it isn’t much, can increase a pilots pay by two or three hundred dollars per month. 

Unlike most jobs, compensation for pilots is non-negotiable. Unions, which represent the companies workers, will negotiate with management to set payscales and advocate for better working terms. Upon a pilot’s hiring, they agree to these terms when signing their conditional job offer.

Getting down to the nitty gritty though, here are the six key factors which influence pilot pay:

The most important of these factors is the pilots seniority in the company. This is key to a pilot being awarded a desirable schedule as well as what determines when a First Officer upgrades to Captain–a responsibility which, of course, includes a pay raise.

Seniority has the biggest influence over the pilots monthly schedule. Think of it as a monthly selection process. The airline’s crew scheduling department starts by creating a roster of trips. Pilots will then login to a special portal to select or “bid” for these trips, thereby building their schedule for the upcoming month. This is done with respect to the pilots date of hire. Therefore, more senior pilots have first choice at a more desirable work schedule. Pilot’s generally try to pick trips which allow for the highest flight times, consolidated over few working days. This allows for more time off while still retaining high pay. Most unions will stipulate a minimum monthly pay requirement regardless of hours flown. This is typically around 70 hours of pay.