Salerio

I'm curious as to how often Delta pilots make more than $27,000-$29,000/month (gross pay) on the narrow and wide bodies?

Airlinepilotpay.com gives hourly rates but with the greenslips it's really hard to compare W-2 money between jobs.

It is pretty common to make more than $250,000/year? How about $280,000 or even $320,000 per year? And how much does profit-sharing add for the high-earners?

With all of the open contracts out there and all of the hiring happening, it would be nice to know honest W-2 money.

Sunvox

W-2's for pilots have a large variance. Different people have very different priorities, and airlines undergo periods of shortage and excess in regards to staffing. Seniority and current economic conditions will dictate a bracket of possibilities, but to try and pin down an exact number is all but impossible.

At this moment in time, there are some pilots breaking $300k and there are many pilots approaching $250k, but in terms of the total pilot pool they remain in the minority by far.

I suspect you are not asking the real question for which you are seeking an answer. What is it that you really want to know? Is piloting a good profession? Do narrowbody pilots make $250k? Do "greenslips" at Delta account for the lions share of earnings? Are the majority of Delta pilots earning more than a $250k per year?

What is it that you really want to know?

scambo1

It depends on the individual, his circumstances and his motivations.

Profit sharing is paid as a percentage of earnings based on profit. It can be zero percent and has been as high as double digit percentages of earnings.

Generally speaking, it takes some years of seniority coupled with luck and strong contract knowledge to make significantly more than 1000x the hourly rate.

PurpleToolBox

Even though I work at FDX, I did work at Delta and what these guys said apply to both airlines, if not all.

I know folks who only work the minimum, and I know folks who will do anything they can to make sure they're working for draft pay (FDX) or greenslip pay at Delta instead of straight pay.

What you can't do is count on the extra flying/extra pay to always be there because it won't. If you get it, it's icing on the top.

BobZ

If you have access the PAS data it may shed some light. Of all pilots last month the average part of monthly flying at premium rates is about 4%.

$28k/month? Its doable given the right circumstances.

Is it consistently sustainable over a career? No.

At least not to this point.

Timbo

$29,000 x 12 mo = $348,000 per year.

I'm a 777 captain, been at Delta over 30 years, and I have never, ever, made that much, not even close, and that includes our last profit sharing check which was 21%.

But, I have only flown 2 green slips in my 30+ years. I typically fly 75-85 hours per month, rarely more. Many of my F/O's make more, but they are working the LCA trip drop/green slip thing and/or working a lot more days per month.

Could a narrow body guy make that much? Only if works his ass off.

Salerio

Some of you are reading too much into this; I'm a B737 captain.

I am going to gross $29,000 this month and average $26,000/month (while working about 18 days). I keep hearing about how much more Delta makes and it's an honest question, what does a typical guy with a double-breasted uniform earn compared with my less-than-crisp uniform?

I phrased it oddly because I didn't want this to turn into a schlong-comparison, it's just that we're in negotiations, you're in negotiations, our union says you make more and I realized I had no idea what you guys earned now.

Where I work, without counting profit-sharing, the average narrow-body W-2 is $246,000, with a minority of us making $300k+ and a couple in the $450k range (and by "couple", probably actually two).

One of our recent retirement comparisons had the phrase, "Take the American pilot that makes $300k..." and I thought to myself, "I don't think there are any American pilots making $300k, but maybe Delta?"

Hence my question. If I were a topped-out Delta narrow-body captain, would my average salary be $246,000? Higher? Lower? How about widebody?

I realize it's a bit indelicate to talk wages, since schlong-comparison seems to sneak in, this is really curiosity speaking.

BobZ

A NB capt would have to average maybe 130hrs/month for pay to reach that threshold.

And be senior enough and in the right spot to get the OT.... and here is the kicker..... legal under 117 to work the trips..

A schedule like that might prove fatal for more than a couple of years.

Yep....... the wife would likely kill you....

beancounter

I've flown with several captains making over $300k a year and I'm on the A320. One FO has made $250k, but he lives in base, no family. There is no doubt however that Delta pilots are far better compensated than American pilots. Their quality of life is better too.

esadof

American group 4 make $293 hr plus international override. $300k + a year with 20 days off is pretty normal on those fleets