Originally Posted by
Aero1900
I can tell you that the average frontier captain currently makes 180,000/year. That's from the payroll dept. I can't speak for southwest other than to look at their pay rates. also, keep in mind that the future will almost assuredly include much better pay rates at frontier.
This is not true.
This is not true even if you're a company cheerleader trying to encourage new hire pilots so they won't bail for greener pastures.
I would say that the top 20% of the captain group (
excluding those involved with the training department gravy train) average 180K per year. There's simply NO way that the overall average is $180K when the 20% on reserve are probably doing well do break $140K. Keep in mind that there's only a $20/hr difference between the lowest paid captain and the highest.
I'm basing my earnings estimates on what appears on a W2, not what some company cheerleader might want to impute based on a 5% company match to a 401k or a 6% defined contribution plan. Or what XX number of days of vacation may or may not be worth.
Frontier's lowest paid captain makes about $137 an hour and the highest is $149. The monthly minimum guarantee is 75 hours. Per diem is $1.90 an hour. No international or night flying overrides. Company 401k match is up to 5% and they put in an additional 6% in the 401k whether you contribute or not (if you've been here long enough to be captain)