Willy

Some think we have the best job in the US given our pay vs hours worked. Could it be?


1. Aircraft Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
> Hours worked/year: 1,090
> Median hourly earnings: $119.12
> No. employed: 68,580
> Hours worked/week: 21
> Median annual income: $103,210
> Top annual income: $139,330
According to the BLS, “FAA regulations limit flying time of airline pilots of large aircraft to a maximum of 100 hours a month and 1,000 hours a year. Most airline pilots fly an average of 75 hours a month and work an additional 140 hours a month, performing nonflying duties, which includes waiting for delays to clear and their aircraft to arrive.” According to the BLS’s national compensation survey, only two jobs have shorter annual hours worked — flight instructors and lifeguards. Pilots work almost 50% fewer hours than the average America, but make the 21st highest median annual salary among the 819 positions listed on the BLS list of occupations.

Read more: The Highest Paying Jobs With The Most Time Off | Fox Business

CzechAirman

I have no major complaints and I do think I have one the best jobs in the US.

727C47

we see the world, fly cool airplanes,make decent living,no complaints,no worries here,cheers out.

reCALcitrant

I'm not paid for what I do. I'm paid for what I CAN do. A surgeon doesn't have to work all those hours. They have to work all those hours to make $500k/year. If we worked 2600 hours/yr, we'd be the same. No thanks. Nobody *****ed about Sully's pay.

FlybyKnite

I see they went to the McCain School of Mathematics. Time Away from Base (TAFB) counts as work time in my book and for many others especially those who get paid a Trip Rig-- if I ain't at home, then I'm at work. So they need to basically Triple that Hours Worked per Year number, which would paint a different picture.

MaydayMark

I've had several "real jobs." This one beats the heck out of working for a living

TheFly

+1. That is basic, natural, common sense. Not home means at work.

FamilyATM

Hell, even if you use McCain math... 75 hard hours plus 140 other duty hours equals 215 hours a month...divide that by an average 23 workdays in a calendar month. Our average workday would be 9 hours 20 minutes and we all know we don't work 23 days a month and our average duty day is a lot longer than 9+20. So, I agree this is a great job and the only one I have ever really wanted to do, but it also is no free ride. I make no apologies to my friends for the number of days I work and I believe I work for every dollar I earn to keep the family ATM running.

NightIP

+1 to FlybyKnite

What about the 400-500 hours TAFB each month? I consider any of that time NOT in an airplane unpaid work that should be put into that calculation (unfortunately no trip rig where I'm at, which is unforgivable).

HercDriver130

Well...i guess I disagree with the TAFB from base is work ......but thats about it. I would guess that few of my friends were ON the clock as many hours as I was "on duty" during the past 2 weeks. And I certainly like most of us wish or compensation was more, but in the end I would rather fly than do any of the jobs I have done outside of aviation.