9999

I am looking into what I could expect for annual pay with various airlines while researching my next career move (impending military retirement). I have found monthly hour averages for the various airlines and their pay scales for FO's and such. My question is, if I were to work as a FO, and averaged 75 hours a month, is there a 'ball park average' on what I could expect to recieve annually for per diem? I am trying to figure out a ball park on what to expect for annual revenue with these jobs and realize there are alot of factors. Is the question I asked, providing enough information to answer this?

For example:

75 hours guaranteed per month x 1st yr FO (52 per hour)
75 x 52 = $3900 per month

$3900 X 12 months = $46,800 gross annually
$46,800 + total annual per diem = Total annual gross pay

I am new to this and trying to figure out how I can expect to live for the first couple years I am flying outside of the military. Thanks in advance to all who reply.

328dude

9999: Like you said, there are so many factors, but figure for a line holder between 200 and 300 hours ballbark of TAFB or Time Away from Base. Take that times the per diem rate. Nothing will be able to calculate what it would be for each month exactly, i.e. trip trades, weather, mx, sick calls, but that should give you a high and a low end average.

Also per diem is non taxable if your out of your domicile for a trip. It's taxable if you do a one day trip out of your base.

Somebody else more experinced in this might be of better math than me or a better starting point.

9999

328dude,

Thanks for that information. So planning for it to be under $1,000 is prudent?

UPSAv8tr

As a domestic lineholder at UPS I plan on about 6k in perdiem per year. International lineholder guys can get upwards of 20k per year. Reserves are a different story. If you get called out on multi day trips alot per diem will be more. If no calls/out and backs it won't be much. Moral of the story: get to a line ASAP!

frozenboxhauler

Are you considering per-diem money as "bankable"? I really hope not! I get $64.80/day, (International rate of $2.70/hr), for food and expenses. Breakfast at some of the hotels that we stay at in Asia comes to nearly $20.00. We've had over the years a few "tight screws" who would even take burned out light bulbs from home and substitute them for the working ones in their hotel rooms. Please tell me that you're different.
Regards,
fbh

Falconjet

No, "planning" on it all is not prudent. Per Diem covers expenses while you are on the road, you shouldn't be planning on it as income. That is what most guys are tying to tell you.

Good luck and thanks for your service.

FJ

328dude

No problem. I agree with what everyone else has said. Don't count per diem as income when figuaring out your bottom line. You will spend most of it during the year. If you can live on 20 bucks a day, then maybe you could make a quick 200 bucks at the end of the year.

We have a bunch of military guys in my training class now and had the same question. They seem to understand now and was under the same impression as you before they fully understood it.

Pick up a day or two for some good extra cash.

TriStar_drvr

I just wish there was "beer override" additional per diem that would cover the cost of some of my bar tabs...

Rama

Plan for per diem being zero, than anything you get is beer money.

ToiletDuck

Amen. Beer money can make the difference between a bad trip and a good one.