Captain salaries & info

[Prodrive555]

Hi,

As everyone knows, most entry level FOs are looking at 18-24ish for the first year with your average Regional.

I'm curious what are the realistic first / second year salaries for Captains? I've seen the airlinepilotpay website, but realistically what would be some yearly salaries for experienced guys who are flying as Captain?

The reason I ask is because I'm contemplating a move into the regional level in order to make living and quality of life easier for the family.

If someone were to start applying to all the regionals with say, 3000-3500TT and 1000 multi, 750+ multi-turbine, 250+ multi PIC, and typed on a medium turboprop like the B1900.....what could they expect for positions and pay?

Would this experience net a direct entry Captain spot on a turbo-prop, an FO spot with quick upgrade? How about regional jets, would direct entry Captain be out of the question? If one went FO on an RJ with this experience, would they been upgradable in the near future?

Basically, in a nutshell.......your currently flying Captain on a 1900 with 3500TT and apply to all the regionals........what should you realistically be expecting?

Thanks for any info, as you can tell, I'm not very familiar with the regional scene at the moment.

Cheers

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by Prodrive555

Hi,

As everyone knows, most entry level FOs are looking at 18-24ish for the first year with your average Regional.

I'm curious what are the realistic first / second year salaries for Captains? I've seen the airlinepilotpay website, but realistically what would be some yearly salaries for experienced guys who are flying as Captain?

The reason I ask is because I'm contemplating a move into the regional level in order to make living and quality of life easier for the family.

If someone were to start applying to all the regionals with say, 3000-3500TT and 1000 multi, 750+ multi-turbine, 250+ multi PIC, and typed on a medium turboprop like the B1900.....what could they expect for positions and pay?

Would this experience net a direct entry Captain spot on a turbo-prop, an FO spot with quick upgrade? How about regional jets, would direct entry Captain be out of the question? If one went FO on an RJ with this experience, would they been upgradable in the near future?

Thanks for any info.

The honest answer? It depends. I know Mesa was hiring "street CAs" into the Dash 8, but I don't know if they still are. That aircraft is potentially getting phased out. FO with a quick upgrade is a posibility, but you'd be on reserve for years as a CA as the guys ahead of you in seniority upgraded and leapfrogged you. The street CAs hired at Pinnacle several years ago are just NOW getting off reserve, and most can only hold 10 days off. If you've got a family and have to commute, well, you'll hardly see them with that kind of line. There was talk of street CAs here at Pinnacle for a while, but instead they've lowered the upgrade mins so more FOs can upgrade instead of hiring guys off the street. Other than that, you're looking at getting hired as an FO and waiting until you've got the seniority to hold a CA position.

[dbrault17]

Originally Posted by Prodrive555

If someone were to start applying to all the regionals with say, 3000-3500TT and 1000 multi, 750+ multi-turbine, 250+ multi PIC, and typed on a medium turboprop like the B1900.....what could they expect for positions and pay?

Cheers

I dont know, I dont think youd have enough qualifications to get into a regional airline.

[Texasspilot]

I imagine you could get a job but direct entry capt...No.

Everyone starts at the bottom of the seniority list.

Unless you consider MESA or BigSky both hiring 1900 street captains..but you still go on the bottom of the list and whenever somebody gets the time you get bumped back to reserve.

[bike21]

Reasonable take home at SKYW for an approximate 2-3 year Captain level is about $4,000 a month. Of course this depends on your retirement contribution, insurance, credit hours, etc.

[Prodrive555]

Thanks for much for the info!

I don't really know how the system works so this is all great information!

Any idea on how long it would take (assuming your experience is already sufficient) to upgrade for a guy off the street? (turboprop / jet)

Cheers

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by Prodrive555

Thanks for much for the info!

I don't really know how the system works so this is all great information!

Any idea on how long it would take (assuming your experience is already sufficient) to upgrade for a guy off the street? (turboprop / jet)

Cheers

Two days ago at Pinnacle, I woulda said about a month. You'd still be looking at about 3 years on reserve, though, and I personally wouldn't want that. Now that they lowered this mins.....2 years if you come in off the street.

[wheelsup]

You might want to seriously consider Compass. They project their upgrade to be <6 months for the time being (ie get in ASAP). They are pretty much only hiring current 121/135 CA's at the moment, so you'd have a good shot.

[frog_flyer]

Go to NetJets

[mojo6911]

Originally Posted by bike21

Reasonable take home at SKYW for an approximate 2-3 year Captain level is about $4,000 a month. Of course this depends on your retirement contribution, insurance, credit hours, etc.

Jeez, 48k/year for a 3 year captain. That sucks (Not just SKYW).

[woodreau]

Originally Posted by Prodrive555

The reason I ask is because I'm contemplating a move into the regional level in order to make living and quality of life easier for the family.

The problem with being a street captain is that your quality of life is probably not going to be very good. You're looking at being reserve as that is what your seniority can hold.

On the other hand, with just minimum guarantee I was looking at making just $27,000 as a 2d year BE-1900 captain (2d year FOs elsewhere probably make more than I do) but when I had to fill out a FASFA for financial aid, they wanted my pay info for the year, and I was very surprised to come up with $11,000 for the first three months of 2007, which means I'll probably make about $44,000 this year if everything stays the same - so I probably make as much or a little less than some jet FOs at a better quality regional airline.

If you're able to get on as a jet captain somewhere, you're probably looking at a lot more.

[bike21]

Originally Posted by mojo6911

Jeez, 48k/year for a 3 year captain. That sucks (Not just SKYW).

Umm...that is in the pocket and estimated on the low side. True salary is more like $70,000+

[Bog]

Originally Posted by Prodrive555

Hi,
The reason I ask is because I'm contemplating a move into the regional level in order to make living and quality of life easier for the family.

If someone were to start applying to all the regionals with say, 3000-3500TT and 1000 multi, 750+ multi-turbine, 250+ multi PIC, and typed on a medium turboprop like the B1900.....what could they expect for positions and pay?

Quality of life easier on the family by going to a regional? Be VERY careful about which regional you choose. Your QOL stands a great chance of getting worse.

As mentioned, I'd hit the fractionals. You'll be much happier than the regionals. I don't think Mesa / Air Middy is still hiring street CAs into the Beech, but even if they were, your QOL WOULD INDEED GET MUCH WORSE. Trust me on that one.

[inside0ut]

Originally Posted by kellwolf

The honest answer? It depends. I know Mesa was hiring "street CAs" into the Dash 8, but I don't know if they still are.

Not anymore. My friend got hired as a -8 street cap about a month ago and hes stuill waiting to hear about a class date. They are closing bases left and right for those guys and ive seen a ton of guys around the training center moving to the CRJ....

[Airdale]

I'm surprised nobody mentioned Majors.? With your flight time, and with a lot of Majors hiring right now, why not try to get at a Major? You'd no doubt start as an FO, but hey, the pay and QOL might be much better then a regional. Just a thought.

[Prodrive555]

Thanks again to everyone who has replied.

I guess I should mention I'm a Canadian, set to marry an American and relocate to the US. The visa application is already underway.

That's the reason I'm not so familiar with US operations, in particular the regionals. I haven't really thought much about the majors because I figure, realistically my experience might be too low at the moment (correct me if I'm wrong).

Corporate seems like a decent option by the sounds of it.

Thanks again, if anyone has any other advice for my situation, feel free to add.

Cheers

[PeanuckleCRJ]

I made 26K my first year at Pinnacle as an FO... began upgrade 1 month into my second year...was on CA pay by the 3rd month into my second year. Made 60K my second year and right at 70 last year.

I'm not sure what the lowered minimums are going to do for captain upgrade time.



All I know is it's gonna be at least 7+ (ish) years before I get a 4th stripe again.

[staplegun]

Originally Posted by PeanuckleCRJ

All I know is it's gonna be at least 7+ (ish) years before I get a 4th stripe again.

Seriously, do not play that game at "the last job you'll ever have"...


Kevin

[PeanuckleCRJ]

Haha yeah.. it's gonna be a loooonnnng time...


The best thing is that I haven't even worried about or thought about my flight time, upgrade time or anything since I've gotten hired. It's been the biggest stress relief.

[Doug Taylor]

I've been here at the Puzzle Palace for the past month so I'm a little out of touch. Any good "line rumors" there bro?

[Alchemy]

For an RJ captain at most places, around $4,000 a month net (take home after taxes, deductions, and whatnot) is about right if you don't go much over guarantee. You can probably increase that by about 25% if you want to work a little more.

I don't know of any places that are hiring street captain inthe RJ, except maybe Gojet (stay away). I think Pinnacle has done it in the past and have heard that they may need to do it again, but Kellwolf's answer is the most accurate on that topic....