Captain Pay
 

When you upgrade to captain do you start at year one captain pay or does your pay reflect your years with the company? EX. If you upgrade after three years do you get third year captain pay?

At essentially every US airline your longevity (measured in years) is permanent, so you would start at three year CA pay. Some foreign airlines actually make you start over when you upgrade (ie a 9 year FO becomes a year 1 CA)

Most airlines pay their Pilots based on Years of Service, just like the government does for military pay scales. A pilot is paid a set rate based on thier seat and years of service. A pilot that has 4 years at the airline, then upgrades to Captain will be paid at the relative 5 years of service Captain pay. If the pay began at year one it would need to be significantly adjusted upward to offset the current pay system.

The only pay that remains constant for all years of service and all seat positions is the per diem rate. Expenses one the road are equal for all.

Good Luck

So why does UPS or any other carrier have year one pay for a captain at 33?
http://airlinepilotcentral.com/image...upsjan2007.gif

Simple. UPS' union has determined that probationary/year one pay should be $33 for every pilot, regardless of seat. They probably used the lower pay (which they figure will never be an issue since it's unlikely that anybody will upgrade in less than 12 months) for leverage on some other issue.

Just in case. A few regionals are hiring street captains, so it does apply at the regional level. It will almost certainly never be used at the majors.

Gotcha, great answers and very informative.

Yes, I didn't know that either. I thought that you went to 1 year captain when you upgrade. very cool!!

Me 2!! Nice:)

Me too....god we are newbs!

Thanks christ too...the upgrade pay from a 3-4 year FO at XJT or SKW to year one captain pay wasn't that great. At least there is some light at the end of the tunnel.