G550/650 Salary
 

Guys/Gals,
I know the 650 doesnt have figures yet, however could someone be so kind and let me know what the average G550 salary is for a Captain in the June 2011 Pro Pilot magazine please.:)

Gulfstream V/G550 Captain
Average 143,000
High 180,000
Low 112,000

First Officer
Average 90,000
High 106,000
Low 75,000

Thanks,
HH:)

Yikes-a 4year SW F/O clears 150/year with 18 days off/month and job protection.

congratulations.
 

Congrats. If your happy then stay.

How did you get that number? This websites SWA profile shows it would 107k.

Well said.

Are your figures done using typical airline pilot math? You know, eating free peanuts as meals 250 days a year and screwing the van driver out of a dollar on each overnight?

Job Protection? LOL...I'm glad you can't ever lose your job at Southwest Airlines, because it would really suck to be on the street with an airline attitude and 9000hrs of 737 SIC time.

:o

+1. Well sais.

Work rules...its pretty easy to credit MUCH more pay than minimum guarantees.

Great thing about this industry is there's something for everybody - there's plenty of airline guys who would never lower themselves to "kissing some rich guy's ass" and filing their own flight plans, and some corporate pilots that would kill themselves if they had to do a MDW-BHM-MCO-BWI-MHT type of day 12-16 days a month for the rest of their careers.

Large cabin/corporate pilot = Apples. 121 FO at a the highest paid (because EVERYBODY else came down) LCC = bowling balls. More on this a the end.

But hey, he's 737 PIC typed :rolleyes:

Indeed, ANYBODY that's worked under a lucrative contract knows this. But if the FO is truly banking 150K/year, it's probably not at 18 days off a month in a lot cases.

Agree, plenty of former corporate pilots that moved to 121 and could NEVER go back to corporate. As well as plenty of former 121 pilots that have gone corporate/frac and could NEVER go back to 121. Personally, I'm envious of the latter.

flying is flying...only pilots brag about making 150K because they are used to being so poor......150K is barely pulling your sad a$$ out of middle class these days.

Whatever, do what makes you happy....I go for the max amount of time off to work on other ventures ($$$) and try to keep up with affordable hobbies.

Work like a dog and live on the road in hotels to maximize your month?.......no thanks.

Job protection is a state of mind. If SWA ever hits a financially rough path, do you honestly believe your job is secure? Ask the pilots at TWA about their protection.

Bottom line, there are thousands of out of work pilots who would be happy to have any job. Be thankful for whatever you've got.

Damn that's a good post. ha ha ha

ROFLMAO!!!!! Dude, you're killing me...

Where did you get your info? Seriously if you get that at SWA, good for you. But not everyone gets hired at SWA even with stellar qualifications. I haven't figured it out so if you have let us all know.

Me personally, I would never go back to Part 121 world. I jumped ship to the corporate side and it was the best decision I ever made. If I go SWA, I'll be luck to make CA in my 12th year. If I went to DAL I am looking at 15 or more years before making CA on a NB that is if I don't get furloughed during my stint there.

So Each to his own. I have nothing but respect for SWA pilots but you come across as being very insecure with your remark.

Unfortunately, 150K in California or New York/New Jersey is barely middle class - better hope for dual incomes... 150K in Nevada, Texas or Florida works better with no state income tax.

I do know one SWA 3rd year FO who is pulling in 130-140K but he is working his butt off for it and he has no family/obligations. Wonder how soon he will be burned out. Certainly don't get the variety of flying that a G550 driver would get...

Life in California sucks on 150k, thankfully my wife makes good money as well.

Really? What sucks about it?

Try living in any major metro area on less....its not practical unless you dont mind renting, living with your parents, living like $hit, etc...most of that wears off after about age 25.

Even in cheaper areas (Midwest, South etc) the nice neighborhoods are expensive. I always laugh when someone justifies a lower salary because the area is cheaper....then they proceed to whine about the high taxes, lack of jobs, hick neighbors, need for private schools, etc.

Sorry, I don't want to live in the hood....be it in LA, NYC or St Louis.

$150k takes you a HELL of a lot further in flyover country (even midwest metros) than it does on either coast. Even in fairly large cities like Columbus, Chicago, Indy, Nashville, St. Louis, KC, Dallas, Denver, etc. an income of $150k will have you in a nice home in a good neighborhood with very good public schools driving nice cars, with plenty of $$$ left over. That is, unless you act like a typical pilot with your money...

That said, there are a HELL of a lot more flying jobs on either coast than in flyover country even midwest metros).

Everything is a tradeoff...

I just looked at a job in one of those cities....and know the area a bit. They only places I would live have the same exact housing prices as suburban NY, and higher taxes and far less jobs...now add in the culture vacuum, etc..No Thanks. They can't fill the position (with what they want) at 200K salary and a generous moving package. Reason? location. They can't get anyone to move.

One can certainly live on 150K, but you aren't living great by any means. Then again, we're pilots?

I'm all for living where you want, as that's the most important thing, but its hard to move away from the jobs, any yes...there seems to be more on the coasts...I'd rather be on 200 acres in the mountains, just don't see it happening....yet.

:(

Ok. Assuming average G-V pay is enough, what I’d like to know from the G-V guys is what their sked/time away fm home is like? I'm retiring this year and considering the +/-'s of corp vs 121 (or other) and the problem I keep coming up against with corp is that to get paid descent (see assumption above) you have to go big, like with the G-V's. No shock there, and true, to get paid descent in 121 ops it's usually the same (SWA excluded), but 121 time off seems more predictable and with seniority more likely. The intel I keep getting about large corp jet drivers is that it's not predictable, it's usually across the pond (that's why the corp bought a G-V after all), and because of that you're gone a LOT. Probably more than the 121 pilot in any fleet size. From what I’m reading here, perhaps this is not your experience? Agree or disagree?

Truthfully, I think I would like the type/variety of corp ops over 121, but I’ve got a family and I’d like to keep it. I’d like to work in a place where I can know my sked far enough in advance (and that it won’t usually change the night prior against my will) that I can count on going to important family events. I definitely don’t want to be gone more than a 121 pilot. Where can I be home most nights with the most pay? 121 or corp? And to be clear again, I’m ok with 150K.

That's why there's a "high" and "low" end of the salary survey numbers. Any corporate pilot living in an area with higher than average cost of living should be demanding higher than average pay. Ideally, a GV captain living in LA or NYC shouldn't be making 150k a year, they should be making 180k. I know of Gulfstream guys in California clearing in excess of 200k a year. Not saying it always happens that way but in a perfect world it should. That being said, there's always a short sided wh@re willing to fly your airplane for less than you are to get a type rating or hours. Pilots are our own worst enemies.

Nobody can answer this. It varies too much.

I can tell you that my previous job, corporate Fortune 10, averaged about 8 RONs a month with 13 days of work. One crew (20+ pilots) was weekend duty, everyone else was free...unless on a trip of course.

My current Part 91 small corp job averages somewhat less. We are well staffed and pick our time off and just assure that the plane is covered. Its gets no better (IMHO)

I do know some corporate outfits (small and large) who work like dogs with no real schedule. Don't let the "hard day" thing fool you....you may get 3-4 a month and work the other 26. If they cant share an entire department schedule with you during an interview, be afraid. If it seems like a touchy subject, you can imagine how bad it is.

I'm not sure many corporate outfits can give you as firm a schedule as an airline, but I can also tell you every airline pilot I know works harder than me and I would never trade my schedule for theirs.

Good luck in your decision!

I make less than $150k, live in the central part of the US, and depending on YOUR definition of great, I'm doing just that.
That statement seems a little harsh to me.

USMCFLYR

That statement was harsh?....:confused::o

Very true, its all subject to what one wants/needs.

Some are thrilled to be making 75K and flying a jet and just feel lucky to climb in a cockpit and have a job. Some look at flying as a paycheck and a lot of time off and wont do it for less than 2X that....I can only relate to what I know, and much less than that is not acceptable to me...but I certainly don't care what anyone works for.

:)

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for high(er) pay. You and I agree on many things, but I gotta disagree with you when you say you live like sh*t in CA if you make less than 150k.

I lived in O.C. in a nice beach neighborhood on less than 150k and lived like a king. I rented by choice (real estate prices made absolutely no sense and saw the bust coming), the house I own (out of CA) I had rented out, I drove 2 cars, and enjoyed a nice, active middle-class lifestyle with my family.

It really is a matter of perspective and how smart one is with their money.

I read it as basically saying that since I make less than $150k then I am not living a "great life"

I disagree. I'm very happy with my life ;)

I imagine that you are probably very happy to making twice that as you said.
What if a guy making a million a year came on and said that he thought you were living like a pauper because you made less than $300,000/year. Wouldn't you just shake your head?

I look forward to the day when I do make $150,000/year - but it doesn't control my happiness!

USMCFLYR

Ya lost me when it came to the renting thing...I have a family and like to be settled into a nice home....thats a substantial part of the equation. You basically confirmed that you cant live very well in SoCal with a family on 150K, as you cant buy something in a nice area. Ditto that in many large suburban areas, even with the housing correction in effect.

Without a family (or kids out of the nest?) I would care far less about owning, until then I'm just not into being a transient pilot type. I decided long ago I will quit aviation before doing that to my kids. Others adapt well to it, it's just not me. While I'm somewhat interested in moving, I'm not changing my QOL/Lifestyle to do it. It will need to be a calculated move and a move UP (salary, package etc)....as all career moves should be (IMO)

ANYHOW, this is, of course, a never-ending chat as its simply personal...and we all seem happy here with our salaries and money management good little frugal pilot lifestyles, so that's all that really matters I suppose?

:)

Can a 4yr SW F/O fit his golf clubs in though? :D Different styles.

RJSAviator -

I understand your point. I know MANY former peers who lived in the Orange County area, and then the San Diego area, who made less than $150k and lived just fine. I lived in San Diego for 6 months before moving to my present location and rented a very nice small apartment in a great area and enjoyed my life during that time just fine! It is a personal thing and obviously there are different strokes for different folks.

USMCFLYR

Again, disagree, but different strokes for different folks. :)

Let's just hope that those decisions get to be made by you, and not by other events or people.

Cheers bud! :)

Exactly right.

Flying a Global Express, grossed $200K+ last year, getting a new G650 in a couple of years, pay to go up accordingly, yyke back buddy. No bidding, flying 400/500 hours a year, 4 star hotels, generous meal allowance, paid internet, laundry, uniforms, full medical with loss of license, Cadillac medical with life....Enough? Don't go there pal :)

You can bet your life these decisions are made by me!

Pilots are some of the worst career planners on the planet. Nobody trying to fill a good job wants to hire an unemployed person, that's a fact. They want someone who knows what they want and is eager to get it, not some one who needs something, anything. This is often seen with unemployed pilots who send resumes all over the world and wind up with a few mediocre interviews. They blame the economy, their location, nobody has the budget to move them (that's my favorite lol) etc etc...now, they often find something and are happy to plug along but they lost the battle long ago IMO. They are often underqualified and don't do much to change this, even during unemployment. They wait for change to happen. They don't put any thought into how the position would suit their needs, personal and professional. No good place wants to hire this.

My wife has been telling me this for years, as she has run her own consulting/recruiting business since kids came. Hearing stories about corporate aviation she was always amazed at how narrowly focused pilots are...many concentrate on type ratings and currency and think that's the key, but they often miss the big picture. They cruise the internet pilot job sites and consider that looking for work/networking. Ever see the majority of jobs listed online? lowest of the low unless they are poached from corporate sites, where 99% of the time they are already filled.

Maybe its because many pilots are happy just to fly an airplane and that's all they want? and will accept wherever that takes them and try to adapt (or gripe a lot) to what is offered. I think thats somewhat common, and may work just fine for some. So be it. I'm not here to judge, but can't relate.

I'm fortunate that I have never been out of work. I can also say that the very best opportunities that have come my way were by people specifically looking to take you out of a known position and place you in theirs. They were very concerned about your drive, motivation, goals...not your last recurrent at FlightSafety. They were not really interested in unemployed people.

I also know my job could go away tomorrow, and after the initial "DAMN! I liked this job" I would be OK with that really. It's just a job. You can bet I have other plans, both in aviation and out. I could not live any other way. I also am sure to keep this career "maintenance" a small (but routine) part of my life, work is work...it pays the bills and that's important, but its still a small part of my overall life!

ANYHOW...useless NowCorporate career/life advice is over. You get what you pay for..

:)

Where are you based? I'll drop by with a resume!

Where else; CHINA :)

Anyone who can't live on 150K+ is just a poor financial planner. And I live in Massachusetts.

GF