Southwest W2
 

Anyone care to share their first year Southwest W2. I don't want to get into a mine's bigger than yours thing - just want to do some financial planning should I get the call - the payscale sometimes doesn't tell the whole story.

The Southwest monthly guarantee is 79 hours per month (948 hours/yr), first year FO pay is $52/hr, and the FAA max flight time is 1000 hours.

So, between $48K and $52K is a pretty reasonable estimate.

Your right that payscales don't tell the whole story - but planning finances on the low end of the spectrum is never a bad policy - everything above will be a "windfall".

Trips picked up beyond your line is paid at 2nd year rates. There is potential of making much more than the above if a guy wants to.

I had a friend who went there in 2002. He said first year, without picking up anything extra, per diem included, he pulled in $55k. . . . . . .for what it's worth.

It pays as good or better than most, I'd be more concerned about getting a call, to get an interview, to get offered a position first. Then if I had time I'd worry about planning my financial future with an airline that I might get offered a position with, if I were to get offered an interview with, if I were to get the call from said airline.

For what it's worth, I flew with a fourth year FO who grossed over 200k. He did say that he worked his butt off trading in and out of trips to get the most pay for the least flying.
In the SWA system, you can pretty much work as much or as little as you want.

One time, at band camp...........

FJ

There always have to be a couple who can't just answer the question. Thx for the info from those who did.

I've been asking around at this question myself and unfortuneately I've heard wildly different answers depending on who you talk to.

I think the average 1st year guy makes the $55-60k range. Works the line, doesn't trip trade too much, has a ANG/Res job that takes up the rest of his schedule.

A friend of mine who hawks the computer and trip trades like a day-trader made (according to him) $80K first year. Retired military so he has a wide open sched. I don't think he actually worked that much extra, he was just very flexible with his schedule and able to jump on an available lucrative trip.

I've talked to SWA Capts making $170k and on the extreme side SWA Capts making >$300k.

I think it just depends on what you're willing to do and how you work the computer.

I've looked over the shoulder while SWA guys explained their trip trade system and it's pretty slick. I imagine that most majors have some similar system but most of my experience is with SWA pilots.

Um, I'm a sixth year FO and I made 168K for 2006. I basically played the game and used my seniority to trade trips and do lots of flying for 1.5 times pay.