You made me curious, so I called a friend. SWA pilots are paid by the "trip" which I understand is kind of like by the hour, but not really, anyway... I did some math...
Mid level FO makes about $119 a "trip." Apparently, averaging about 100 "trips" per month is pretty normal/easy to get. Guys who really hustle and fly a lot end up around 120 "trips" per month. Not sure exactly how much one has to “hustle”…
100 trips x $119 = $11,900/month
- 401k match is 9.3%, so $11,900 x 1.093 = $13,007/month
- Add about $500/month in per diem = $13,507/month
- $13,507 x 12months = $162,084
- Profit sharing varies, but figure 5%ish: $162,084 x 1.05 = $170,188
- 120 trips: $202,961 as an FO!
Captains:
Captains max out at 12 years at about $185 a "trip."
Same math for 100 trips: $261,078
Same math for 120 trips: $312,033
401k match and profit sharing are retirement accounts. You could not participate in the 401k and profit sharing may go to zero, then...
FO @ 100 trips: $148,800; 120 trips: $177,360
Capt @ 100 trips: $228,000; 120 trips: $272,400
All of this before taxes...