Originally Posted by SunDog

it is a lot like commercial fishing: the job is seasonal and the pilot usually makes a percentage of the take or is paid by acre. the season is only a few months, but we work like crazy during those months. often flying 10 to 14 hours per day. some years are good some are worse. the pay is typically 15% to 25%. which can be anywhere from $0.25 to over $2 per acre. guys with their own planes take a lot more.

I am a relative newbie to the field and on a per-flight-hour basis, i make about 3 times as much as my wife, who has 10 years with one of the better regional airlines. however she makes more money than me over the year. i expect to surpass her in another season or two. (but she ought to be into a legacy by then. crossing fingers)