I suspect that this is a similar situation to when some talking head from IATA goes on msnbc and says that pilots make an average of $200,000 (insert ridiculous figure). I have heard these kinds of figures thrown around when someone brings up how low paid new pilots area and they're trying to paint a rosy picture for the general public. If they made it clear that a new jet pilot earns $20,000 the public would feel sympathy for them versus feeling like they're spoiled brats when you throw some ridiculously high average salary out there. I don't buy that the average clerical worker earns $195k a year. the $85,000 number is probably more on track.