Like most things in aviation...it depends! For instance, there are ways to maximize the provisions in the contract to maximize income. That's how many of us make our extra money. If you base it strictly on hours flown, and per diem, you will get a much lower number.

For instance, I made about $48K (f/o at XJT 5 yr pay) not including per diem, yet I only flew about 600 hours total. How did it happen? Well there was a lot of dead head time in there which is paid at 100% per our contract. There was also a few times when I was fully paid protected for one trip that suffered discontinuity due to weather say in EWR and was given another assignment which was paid at time and half during those days.

Ultimately, I get about 14 days off a month, I could have more time off, but I trade a lot for the purpose of maximizing my income. Throw a couple of months of vacation in there where I don't do much, and it's not a bad gig.

goaround