Lowest Regional Airline Pilot Salary

[Seggy]

A few things. First, really can't go off straight pay rates. It really goes hand in hand with work/pay rules. The only way to get that would be to look at their contract. For example, a regional FO made over $100,000 their second year. There is MUCH more to this story, including a scheduler losing their job, but second year pay at his company was about $33 an hour

Also for budgeting purposes DO NOT factor in per diem. No guarantee you will get that. Only factor in your month guarantee when you create a budget for yourself.

Also, be careful about expecting to go to an airline based on quick upgrade times. It can change tommorow!

Hope this helps.

[coa787]

Thanks for helping me out , LoadMaster, as well as everyone else. Yes, I am trying to better understand the industry and find out things that will help me make better choices regarding my path to becoming an airline pilot, so that I don't end up making a mistake that I will regret for a long time.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[LoadMasterC141]

Originally Posted by Seggy

Also, be careful about expecting to go to an airline based on quick upgrade times. It can change tommorow!

(Happy New Year Mark!)

[sleepy3528]

if you go to a place like colgan where most rips are out and backs then you wont be seeing much per diem. at the better regionals if you do 2-4 day trips then you will be earning somewhere between 350-400 dollars in non-taxable per diem which adds up over time. if you do day trips it is taxed and you only acrue it when you are working that day trip so it really isnt worth it. It does help out though and pays for meals on the road. People do spend less then they make in per diem at my company by being frugal but it is a hard life. Also there are tax benefits to working at an airline that does mostly multiple day trips in different cities. Usually in your first year you will earn almost 4 thousand -5 thousand in per diem throughout the course of the year and much of that will be non-taxed.

another thing to look at is a companies contract which would allow you to get paid well above min guarantee without doing too much extra flying. taking advantage of a good contract is working smart not hard. first year at XJT i was able to make 32 thou but i also enjoyed travel benefits on CAL, company match on my 401k at 4% for first year, and a base that is right near my home. Those are all things that you need to consider when working at a regional. If a low end regional is right next door to your house and you want to be home then it might make sense.

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by coa787

I looked on airlinepilotcentral.com and I have one question; Under the salary chart on a selected airline's page, there is a pay calculator. What is credit time, that percentage under the hourly rate, and the bid periods. Thanks.

Airline pay credits work like this:

Logged flight time, from pushback at the gate to chocks in at the arrival gate is called 'block time'.

Block time is the starting basis, in hours, for your pay. Beyond that, credit time or credit hours are the pay hours you get for little extras that aren't really loggable flight time, ie, deadheading, run-ups, repositioning the airplane on the airport surface, sitting 'hot reserve', etc.

You take your block hours, or actual flying time, and just call that credit hours, then add the credit hours you got from other things. The total number of hours you get is your total pay credit for the month.

Total hours pay credit x your hourly pay rate= your paycheck, before deductions.

Example: I flew 80 block hours this month. I also did runups, repos, and a few deadheads giving me a credit of 8 more hours. Total pay credit for the month is 88 hours. Times my hourly rate of $24 a month (for example) is
$2112, before deductions, taxes, etc.

Minimum guarantee pay is what you get when your total block or credit hours for a month would not be greater than a certain amount. ie, if you're sitting reserve and not flying all month, you're going to get paid min guarantee. The min guarantee hours (usually 72 to 75, varyingly) times your hourly rate becomes your paycheck for the month.

Ex: 75 hr min guarantee x $24/hr = $1800.

I used $24 because that's year one FO pay at my company.

Keep in mind, you can't always determine where the best pay rate will be at a regional just because of their pay scale. Work rules and how you're compensated for those 'credit time' events varies from place to place. It's possible to fly the same amount of hours in a month at a place that pays a dollar or two less per hour and still make more than somewhere else.

The best way to find out what regional pay is like is to ask someone from that specific company to lay out the specifics for you. It's usually never as simple as it initially seems.

You're on the right track, though. Most folks here are glad to help out with an honest question.

Some have sticks in their a** though so don't let that phase you.

[SmitteyB]

Originally Posted by LoadMasterC141

Right or wrong, flying Turboprops is low end. Piedmont, Colgan, etc....

Mesa is one of the lowest, if not the lowest, paying regionals.

Pay is NOT the most important thing, particularly starting pay. Some regionals pay great but have crappy contracts. Others have ridiculously long upgrade times. Be sure to look at everything in context rather than one single item, like pay.

Check out pay rates and other things at airline pilot central dot com. Don't go near the forums. They eat newbies for an afternoon snack.

Not so sure about the above post...

Piedmont pays well for flying 37 seat turboprops. Mesa actually doesn't pay too bad. Mesa's work rules are terrible that is what you're thinking of.

Great Lakes, CommutAir- bottom of the barrell. Colgan/Pinnacle are lower end paying. SKYW turboprop FO pay is same as Colgan.(SKW= $19/hour first year)

[Airdale]

This thread sucks. Because pay at all Regionals suck. Even first year pay at the Majors sucks. Unless we're talking about a revolution to get more money, this thread is worthless. It will take me at least 3 years to earn what Uncle Sam was paying me in the military.

[schoolio]

Stick up my a$$, eh?

The reason I responded the way I did was because some people like to give out what they believe to be good information, when in reality the info they give isn't worth the electrons it cost to send it. The "turboprops are low end" statement rubbed me the wrong way, as that's not necessarily true, and I'm an alum of one of those carriers. I'm not singling you out, Loadmaster, as I know you had good intentions. But "I've heard this" and "My buddy said this" statements usually don't hold water. Did you ever do that exercise back in school where the first person whispered something to the next, and by the time the statement got to the other end of the room, it was completely different from the original? Same premise.

There are a lot of factors to consider when selecting an airline. If you're basing it solely on pay, are you talking about the grand scheme of things, to include upgrading at a particular time? Or are you talking just first year? Lots to consider...

As for Piedmont, when I was hired there (Aug 06), the guys who were upgrading when I was in initial were hired in the Spring-Summer 2001 timeframe, which put them just over a five year upgrade. The upgrades slowed for a while, and the timeframe went to 6 years, but it's back to 3.5 now.

Now for the pay. If you want to look at pay, as I stated before, you have to make a lot of assumptions. First, let's assume that upgrade remains at 3.5 years. I know it won't, as APC also says "Over half of the active first officers currently employed were hired in 2007". But lets assume it anyway. Also, we'll assume guarantee. We'll also assume that you'll split your time between the -100 and the -300 after upgrade, so we'll average that rate. And this doesn't take into account the contractual pay raises, since PDT's contract is amendable in 2009 and nobody knows what those rates will be.

Year 1: $25/hr x 72 hour guarantee x 12 months = $21,600
Year 2: $29 x 72 x 12 = $25,056
Year 3: $31 x 72 x 12 = $26,784
Year 4: $32 x 72 x 6 = $13,824
Upgrade $53 x 72 x 6 = $22,260 = 36,084

Not a lot, huh? Doing the same math for ExpressJet, assuming a 75 hour guarantee and a 3 year (laugh) upgrade, will yield the following numbers:

$20,700
$30,600
$33,300
$57,600

There are a lot of other things to consider besides pay. Quality of life is probably the biggest. Of course good pay contributes to good QOL. But how about commuting vs. living in base? When I was at PDT, I lived in base. I sat reserve last Christmas and didn't get used, but I did it at home. That was awesome. I spent my first three months at XJT commuting to sit reserve in the crashpad, and didn't get used for quite a bit of it. That was an extremely miserable time. Contributing to your QOL will be your work rules. Do you get paid 100% for deadheads? How many times can you be junior-manned, and what does the company do for you when they do that? And so on, and so on, ad infinitum...

Anyway, as I and others like Loadmaster stated before, there is a lot more to consider than pay when looking at regional airlines. I know some of these guys were just trying to help you out, coa787. You're doing the right thing by seeking out information. My only advice to you is to talk to actual pilots who are working at the regionals which you are considering. They'll be your best source of info. I know you're probably just starting the process, so good on you for trying to get the info. These forums have pilots from most of the airlines, so just look for them if you have a question about their airline specifically.

Oh yeah, to answer your original question, it's more than likely Great Lakes. I have a buddy over there (take that for what it's worth) who is making crap for money, is getting abused like hell, has been there about 11 months and is getting pushed toward upgrade before he's even flown a full winter in the Rockies. But on the bright side, he'll upgrade around April, get his turbine PIC quickly, and be out of there and on to a (hopefully) better carrier. He will probably leave Great Lakes for Allegiant (if all goes well) before I upgrade at XJT. Something else to consider. But I'd encourage you to find a Great Lakes pilot on here to get the real skinny. Good luck.

[Snuggle]

You also should look at Reserve times. They fluctuate often based on hiring and growth and vary by base. Colgan has little or no reserve time. Check out my thread about my 6 month pay, I never had a reserve line so I was able to make a lot of over guarantee from the start.

http://forums.jetcareers.com/pro-pil...-regional.html

[schoolio]

Originally Posted by Airdale

This thread sucks. Because pay at all Regionals suck. Even first year pay at the Majors sucks. Unless we're talking about a revolution to get more money, this thread is worthless. It will take me at least 3 years to earn what Uncle Sam was paying me in the military.

Three years? Consider yourself lucky. I flew with an 8 year CA who doesn't make as much as I did working for Uncle Sam...can you say 67% pay cut?


But the view at FL370 is much better than the view on the ground at Balad, Taji, or BIAP...

[SmitteyB]

Colgan may only pay $21/hour, however for instance...

I haven't started flying January yet and I've got a 90 hour block line which has a pay credit of 114 hours. With LGA that can easily turn into 120-125 pay credit and I can still be legal to pick up open time. I've got 13 days off.

I sleep in my own bed everynight and get to see my family everyday. To me- the QOL factor overcomes some of the crap you have to put up with.

[wheelsup]

Open time and staffing levels will have a greater impact on your pay than actual pay rates IMO. In the lean times I was doing 105-110 hours credit, now it's more like guarantee. My company traditionally runs well staffed, so if you go to a company that typically runs "lean" you'd have more luck picking up trips and adding to the pay, as the post above goes to show.

[Snuggle]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

Open time and staffing levels will have a greater impact on your pay than actual pay rates IMO. In the lean times I was doing 105-110 hours credit, now it's more like guarantee. My company traditionally runs well staffed, so if you go to a company that typically runs "lean" you'd have more luck picking up trips and adding to the pay, as the post above goes to show.

Ain't that the truth... I purposely picked a reserve line in Dec to spend some more time at home and boy did I get it. I flew 20 hours this month. I finally get to fly tomorrow after 2 weeks of no flying.

[SmitteyB]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

Open time and staffing levels will have a greater impact on your pay than actual pay rates IMO. In the lean times I was doing 105-110 hours credit, now it's more like guarantee. My company traditionally runs well staffed, so if you go to a company that typically runs "lean" you'd have more luck picking up trips and adding to the pay, as the post above goes to show.

Very good point Wheelsup. With Colgan NOT holding any Saab FO classes until March, and the OPEN time available for JANUARY, I think that being a Saab FO here could yield 100 hours of block and 120 hours of pay credit for a couple of months to come.

[Snuggle]

Originally Posted by SmitteyB

100 hours of block and 120 hours of pay credit for a couple of months to come.

cha ching!

[meritflyer]

Love it how the guys flying for TP outfits try to compare their pay to SKYW for justification. Hate to burst your bubble but its not the same cup of tea.

Again, whatever helps you sleep at night.

[jynxyjoe]

Originally Posted by meritflyer

Love it how the guys flying for TP outfits try to compare their pay to SKYW for justification. Hate to burst your bubble but its not the same cup of tea.

Again, whatever helps you sleep at night.

not sure what any of that meant above except for the last sentence.

well i've noticed the saab guys at colgan sleep just fine. there is this other airplane they fly at colgan, no its not the dash. its that 19 seater called the Beech. ya know, the guys with 60-70 hour lines and 11 days off.

[SmitteyB]

Originally Posted by meritflyer

Love it how the guys flying for TP outfits try to compare their pay to SKYW for justification. Hate to burst your bubble but its not the same cup of tea.

Again, whatever helps you sleep at night.

Merit- I don't understand.

We compare it to Skywest because they operate a similar airframe and aren't unionized. No other reason my friend.

[LoadMasterC141]

Originally Posted by schoolio

Stick up my a$$, eh?

I'm not singling you out, Loadmaster, as I know you had good intentions.

Anyway, as I and others like Loadmaster stated before, there is a lot more to consider than pay when looking at regional airlines. I know some of these guys were just trying to help you out, coa787. You're doing the right thing by seeking out information. My only advice to you is to talk to actual pilots who are working at the regionals which you are considering. They'll be your best source of info. I know you're probably just starting the process, so good on you for trying to get the info. These forums have pilots from most of the airlines, so just look for them if you have a question about their airline specifically.

No not SUA sir. Was just being funny honestly.

I am glad you know I only meant to help and sorry if my sweeping statement rubbed you the wrong way a little. I can see how it could have now and will try to refrain from such bold verbage in the future.

That is what I was trying to get out yes sir! First year pay is one small consideration in the bunch and certainly anyone working for the actual regional would have much deeper knowledge than myself.

Cheers and Happy New Year! I am off to the Hard-8 for New Years BBQ!!!

[mastermags]

No matter what anybody ranks an airline on, I think upgrade time should NOT be used to judge the quality of an airline. Big Sky being the latest example.

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by mastermags

No matter what anybody ranks an airline on, I think upgrade time should NOT be used to judge the quality of an airline. Big Sky being the latest example.

That depends. Someone could draw a parallel between upgrade time and growth. Typically a company undergoing lots of sustained growth is competitive and has a good management team who knows what they are doing. Reference SkyWest...a good company, good product, with continued sustained growth over the long term.

Then you have companies with no growth over the long term with low upgrade times...which would probably fit into your example. Just my $0.02.

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

I make $20.73/hr at an airline where the slogan is "Simply the Best." The Pina Colada of the regional airlines, if you will.

[Firebird2XC]

Originally Posted by schoolio

Stick up my a$$, eh?

.

I didn't mean you personally. In fact, I don't think I ever read your post.

I just know that some folks come at newbies sideways, so I thought I'd warn him.

Guilty conscience?

[Gonzo]

Originally Posted by Cherokee_Cruiser

I make $20.73/hr at an airline where the slogan is "Simply the Best." The Pina Colada of the regional airlines, if you will.

And you payed how much for that job?

[mastermags]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

That depends. Someone could draw a parallel between upgrade time and growth. Typically a company undergoing lots of sustained growth is competitive and has a good management team who knows what they are doing. Reference SkyWest...a good company, good product, with continued sustained growth over the long term.

Then you have companies with no growth over the long term with low upgrade times...which would probably fit into your example. Just my $0.02.

I disagree... it's intangible. If you upgrade quickly, then good for you. But choosing an airline on upgrade time first is a poor decision in my opinion, because until you are in the left seat, the upgrade can change at any time... then you are stuck with pay and workrules.