CAPILOTAIN

I probably have a different perspective on pay than most people so I’m wondering if anyone could help me out. I understand that a pilot will get paid “x” per flight hour, but to me I would like to know my average hourly pay from when I leave my house until I get back home. For example, if the pay is $100/flight hr, and it takes me two hours to drive to and from work and an hour of walking through the terminal, and two hours of waiting to load passengers and taxi, then I fly for 3 hours, I would be making $300 per day for 8 hours of work or about $37.50/hr. At my non airline job I usually average about $50-60 per hour which includes driving to the airport, sleeping in a hotel, and really any time that I’m not free do to whatever I would be doing with my free time.
How much does an entry level FO and CA make at compass when using the calculation above?
Thanks.

BobbyLeeSwagger

The most common way to figure pilot pay is to take hourly × 1000= annual gross. Might be a little more or less, maybe by 5-10%, but in general it works pretty good

Of course add any bonuses on top of that figure

GrassLandings

So basically you count anytime outside your home as work? Are you a lawyer? Haha. I sure hope you dont lose sleep over not being paid for your drive to work and waiting for passengers... This career is gonna tear you apart. Its just the way it is. We get paid for the time from gate to gate.

In all seriousness, Most guys here spend 13-17 days a month working so lets just say 15. Junior guys will be more, maybe 18 or 19 working days. 15 days is 360 hours away from home. 85 credit hours a month would mean 5.6 credit hours a day. Do the math. For a new CA thats approx $18 an hour away from home in the above example. Plus per deim

CAPILOTAIN

Yes, I do factor all my time in. It really can change a lot of things. For example, if I have to commute to the east coast for a job that pays more per hour compared to a job that pays less but is closer, by thinking of it this way I'm actually making more by making less. I agree this "regional" career could tear me apart which is why I'm looking into all the details. My current part 91 job pays me very well but its a lot of work. I value my time more than my money, which you can probably see. Thank you for providing those numbers. It helps in determining which path will be the most beneficial.

WillFlyForSpam

Don’t forget to factor in the snack basket savings.

FlightMonster

How is the per deim calculated?

KC135

I like your thinking. This is exactly why I work at an airline with all 1 day trips, quick turns, no airport sits, and live 10 mins from the airport with no trams/shuttles to take. Time is money and it makes QOL unparalleled.

ToastAir

“I agree this "regional" career could tear me apart which is why I'm looking into all the details. My current part 91 job pays me very well but its a lot of work. I value my time more than my money, which you can probably see. Thank you for providing those numbers. It helps in determining which path will be the most beneficial.”

I think a better way to answer your question is TAFB - time away from base. I am a relitively low senoirity FO at a regional. In an month where I credit (get paid) say 80-85 hours, my TAFB is around 300 (+/- 20 or so). I do get per diem for all 300. Sometimes I have great layovers or very productive trips and the TAFB isn’t so bad. Regionals are also hard work.

CAPILOTAIN

Now that sounds enticing. If I ever make the switch, I can’t give up QOL and pay. It would be nice to keep both but I’m for sure keeping one. Compass seems great from what I’ve heard, and an LAX base would be perfect.

rickair7777

From report at base to release at the end of the trip.


If the trip does not involve an overnight it's taxable. If there's one or more overnight's it's not taxable.