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Realistic Regional Pay
Currently work a part 91 job making $35K a year regardless of time (not much time actually). What kind of pay cut would be expected making a jump to the regionals? I know it depends on who you work for and lots of other factors, but is there any method for rough estimates? I have heard take the hourly rate and convert it to 1,000. Aka $22/hr would be roughly $22K a year.
The pay cut is really whats keeping me back from making the jump. |
Originally Posted by B200 Hawk
(Post 994385)
Currently work a part 91 job making $35K a year regardless of time (not much time actually). What kind of pay cut would be expected making a jump to the regionals? I know it depends on who you work for and lots of other factors, but is there any method for rough estimates? I have heard take the hourly rate and convert it to 1,000. Aka $22/hr would be roughly $22K a year.
The pay cut is really whats keeping me back from making the jump. |
Originally Posted by B200 Hawk
(Post 994385)
Currently work a part 91 job making $35K a year regardless of time (not much time actually). What kind of pay cut would be expected making a jump to the regionals? I know it depends on who you work for and lots of other factors, but is there any method for rough estimates? I have heard take the hourly rate and convert it to 1,000. Aka $22/hr would be roughly $22K a year.
The pay cut is really whats keeping me back from making the jump. If you want a number you can absolutely plan on, try this: Monthly Guarantee (typically 70-75 hours/mo) x hourly rate x months left after you finish training. So 75 x 22 x 10 = $16500:eek: Note: These calculations don't include per diem, retirement contributions or any of that. So your true compensation may be higher. But they call it guarantee for a reason. |
Pinnacle 3,200/mo training $26/HR*75(1,950mo) + 1300/mo perdiem
2,400/mo online (95 HR) About 30,000 1st year. (this is contract. Guys in TRNG may have another story) |
Originally Posted by Al Czervik
(Post 994395)
Pinnacle 3,200/mo training $26/HR*75(1,950mo) + 1300/mo perdiem
2,400/mo online (95 HR) About 30,000 1st year. (this is contract. Guys in TRNG may have another story) |
Originally Posted by B200 Hawk
(Post 994385)
Currently work a part 91 job making $35K a year regardless of time (not much time actually). What kind of pay cut would be expected making a jump to the regionals? I know it depends on who you work for and lots of other factors, but is there any method for rough estimates? I have heard take the hourly rate and convert it to 1,000. Aka $22/hr would be roughly $22K a year.
The pay cut is really whats keeping me back from making the jump. Lineholders average around 85hrs a month. Could be as low as 75, or up over a 100. At 85hrs a month you're above $37K plus another $4-6k in per diem. I work with a number of FOs that make mid 40K and above. |
Originally Posted by Utah
(Post 994400)
First year is going to suck no matter where you go. Assuming you hold a line as an RJ FO in your second year, you could make $35K+. Even just as a reserve in your second year you'd get a minimum of around 930hrs of pay if you never broke guarantee(75 x12=900 plus holiday and online recurrent pay). The hourly rate is $36.60.
Lineholders average around 85hrs a month. Could be as low as 75, or up over a 100. At 85hrs a month you're above $37K plus another $4-6k in per diem. I work with a number of FOs that make mid 40K and above. |
Originally Posted by jayray2
(Post 994398)
I find these numbers real hard to believe. I've never heard of anyone coming close to those numbers their first year. I still haven't broken 30K, I will this year but I am also on FOURTH year pay. I'd say plan on 24K your first year, WITH per diem.
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In my first year @ Air Wisconsin in 2006, I made $25k including perdiem; in 2007 on 2nd year pay I was on pace to make about $45k including perdiem before I left.
I didn't pick up much extra flying, and bid back-to-back trips since I lived in domicile. But don't EVER build a budget on any credit above guarantee...just don't do it. Live on guarantee, and anything above that is just gravy. |
You've gotta add the total amount you make now and multiply by 5years (35x5) $175k vs. Rj pay years 1 thru 5 added up. My w2s (roughly 16,36, 46, 90, 76) $264k. As you get further along the difference is more drastic. Btw, its the same cost benefit calculations for moving rj capt to major FO. Also, you didn't provide your current QOL but if you get on a decent regional, you'll have a pretty good life off reserve. My .02cents.
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Originally Posted by jayray2
(Post 994405)
Where do you work? My W2 for 2010 on THIRD year pay was 27K, of course that doesn't count per diem. My hourly rate was around $37, I did one month of high speeds and two months of reserve, every other month I broke guarantee. I don't pick up open time because 1.) I have a life and 2.) with my schedule I always had min days off so it was almost impossible to pick up more flying. I think people are lying to you about what they made.
Guarantee alone at 37/hour is 33+ not counting per diem. |
At xjt 1st yr i think i made lower 30's including per diem. Yrs 2-4 i made 42-43 + per diem which totaled right around 50. I have had a pretty respectable QOL my whole time at a regional. Regional contracts have a lot of little perks that 135 or corporate flying never see. Its not a get rich quick scheme but I have averaged 15 days off a month since i have been here and have been able to trade for productive trips because i live in base. I fly around 800 hrs a year. If i had to worry about a commute i would have gone 135, CBP, or some other government job.
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Originally Posted by jayray2
(Post 994405)
Where do you work? My W2 for 2010 on THIRD year pay was 27K, of course that doesn't count per diem. My hourly rate was around $37, I did one month of high speeds and two months of reserve, every other month I broke guarantee. I don't pick up open time because 1.) I have a life and 2.) with my schedule I always had min days off so it was almost impossible to pick up more flying. I think people are lying to you about what they made.
Currently, unless you call in sick for a holiday. The absolute minimum amount of credit hours you'd recive at SkyWest in your second year is 931.8. Multiply that by 36.6 and it's $34,103. |
I've been at Xjt for five years and have yet to break 40k. Here is my hourly rate vs. W2 earnings:
2006: 22/hr=18k(worked for 10months) 2007: 33/hr=38k 2008: 35/hr=34k 2009: 37/hr=35k 2010: 40/hr=39k |
Originally Posted by OCCP
(Post 994572)
I've been at Xjt for five years and have yet to break 40k. Here is my hourly rate vs. W2 earnings:
2006: 22/hr=18k(worked for 10months) 2007: 33/hr=38k 2008: 35/hr=34k 2009: 37/hr=35k 2010: 40/hr=39k |
Originally Posted by OCCP
(Post 994572)
I've been at Xjt for five years and have yet to break 40k. Here is my hourly rate vs. W2 earnings:
2006: 22/hr=18k(worked for 10months) 2007: 33/hr=38k 2008: 35/hr=34k 2009: 37/hr=35k 2010: 40/hr=39k |
Originally Posted by newarkblows
(Post 994646)
How many hours are you flying a year?
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Originally Posted by Al Czervik
(Post 994395)
Pinnacle
+ 1300/mo perdiem About 30,000 1st year. $1300 a month equals roughly $1.80 per hour. Every hour, meaning the whole month - 12am on the 1st thru midnight on the 30th. I've never heard of getting per-diem at home. Or it equals $9 per hour if you average four 4-day trips each month and you're paid per-diem for TAFB. Neither sounds right...?? :confused: |
Originally Posted by BoilerUP
(Post 994414)
But don't EVER build a budget on any credit above guarantee...just don't do it. Live on guarantee, and anything above that is just gravy.
Been on reserve more years than off, I agree with the "guarantee-only" budget plan Boiler mentioned above. There's probably 700 Comair Captains that would recommend staying on your FO budget when you make the left seat, too. |
Boomer,
Are you trying to get out of Comair? Nine years is a hell of a long time to be a regional fo. I've been trying as hard as I can to leave XJT, but no luck so far. I'm afraid I might become a 9 year fo too. |
Originally Posted by OCCP
(Post 994572)
I've been at Xjt for five years and have yet to break 40k. Here is my hourly rate vs. W2 earnings:
2006: 22/hr=18k(worked for 10months) 2007: 33/hr=38k 2008: 35/hr=34k 2009: 37/hr=35k 2010: 40/hr=39k Also, with this supposed mass retiring of guys at the majors, I'm hoping it won't take me 5 years to upgrade at XJT (just starting next Monday). 3 would be acceptable :D |
I suppose I could work the system more, but I refuse to be a slave to open time. I know plenty of Xjt FO who make 45-50k, and they seem to be working on all their days off and through vacation as well. Some are also constantly arguing with their girlfriend's on the phone because they are gone all the time, and put the airline ahead of the rest of their life. XJT has really gone down the tubes and the more time I spend here, being able to be home as much a possible proves to be the most important factor in my life.
As far as upgrades go, you know you can't predict what will happen. When I started here it was about 22 months to hold captain. Flash forward 64 months and I'm still waiting. Saying you could upgrade in 3 years is possible, but don't count on it. If you worked at Eagle you should know. |
Originally Posted by RightSeat4Eva
(Post 994692)
Man you need to learn how to play the system better! When I was at Eagle, I knew guys that would only FLY 80 or 85 hours but would credit over 100 consistently.
Also, with this supposed mass retiring of guys at the majors, I'm hoping it won't take me 5 years to upgrade at XJT (just starting next Monday). 3 would be acceptable :D |
Originally Posted by OCCP
(Post 994682)
Boomer,
Are you trying to get out of Comair? Nine years is a hell of a long time to be a regional fo. I'm trying to get out of Comair, but I can't just hop to another regional for 20 grand/year. My kids will be starting college soon. My only hope is to stay afloat at Comair until the mainline retirements kick in. I guess we'll see how well that plan worked in 3-5 years. |
Originally Posted by OCCP
(Post 994572)
I've been at Xjt for five years and have yet to break 40k. Here is my hourly rate vs. W2 earnings:
2006: 22/hr=18k(worked for 10months) 2007: 33/hr=38k 2008: 35/hr=34k 2009: 37/hr=35k 2010: 40/hr=39k
Originally Posted by OCCP
(Post 994749)
I suppose I could work the system more, but I refuse to be a slave to open time. I know plenty of Xjt FO who make 45-50k, and they seem to be working on all their days off and through vacation as well. Some are also constantly arguing with their girlfriend's on the phone because they are gone all the time, and put the airline ahead of the rest of their life. XJT has really gone down the tubes and the more time I spend here, being able to be home as much a possible proves to be the most important factor in my life.
Originally Posted by OCCP
(Post 994749)
As far as upgrades go, you know you can't predict what will happen. When I started here it was about 22 months to hold captain. Flash forward 64 months and I'm still waiting. Saying you could upgrade in 3 years is possible, but don't count on it. If you worked at Eagle you should know.
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Originally Posted by Boomer
(Post 994771)
Yes, it is. Plus back on reserve to boot.
I'm trying to get out of Comair, but I can't just hop to another regional for 20 grand/year. My kids will be starting college soon. My only hope is to stay afloat at Comair until the mainline retirements kick in. I guess we'll see how well that plan worked in 3-5 years. |
Originally Posted by freezingflyboy
(Post 994782)
Man, you're doing it wrong!;) I'm also in my 5th year and have been over $40k/year since my second year at XJT. 2010 I made just over $46k + $6900 in per diem. To be clear, I am THE worst guy at working the system and definitely not an open time troll. I live in base and pick up open time MAYBE 3 or 4 times a year but only ever short day trips if the Red Flag is up. Never worked a vacation day and usually end up taking a month off every year.
We must have been hired around the same time cause that's the same thing I was told when I started. Aaaand here we are 5 years later...still in the right seat. But at least now there's movement. Point is, upgrade time when you get hired has nothing to do with when YOU will upgrade. When I was looking at getting into the regionals it was right after the big post-9/11 rape of the airlines/pilot flush/hiring freeze so I kept asking myself "If the industry cratered again and I got stuck here for 10 years, would I be OK with that?" And XJT was one of those places. Has it gone downhill since 2006? Absolutely. But talk to folks elsewhere...it ain't nearly as bad as it could be. If I gotta be stuck in the steaming manure pile that is the regional airline business, I'm much happier being near the top than ANYWHERE near the soggy, festering bottom. |
I work at SkyWest and live in base. I do pickup posted trips and open time and usually average 12 to 13 days off per month. I also take about 2.5 weeks off per year for vacation.
Line 3 on my w2 2009: 44k (4th year Jet FO) 2010: 51k (5th year Jet FO) Sold back around 2k of sick time at the end of the year. This does not include about 5,500 in perdiem. BTW, I have a number of friends who do about the same over here around my same seniority. So with working the system a little this is not unusual. |
Originally Posted by Alfaro120
(Post 994787)
Freezingflyboy, you are probably stating what you made gross and OCCP is stating net.
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Originally Posted by Boomer
(Post 994660)
That's a lot of per-diem.
$1300 a month equals roughly $1.80 per hour. Every hour, meaning the whole month - 12am on the 1st thru midnight on the 30th. I've never heard of getting per-diem at home. Or it equals $9 per hour if you average four 4-day trips each month and you're paid per-diem for TAFB. Neither sounds right...?? :confused: |
Originally Posted by Alfaro120
(Post 994787)
Freezingflyboy, you are probably stating what you made gross and OCCP is stating net.
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Originally Posted by Al Czervik
(Post 994805)
New hires receive 24/7 perdiem until they are in their base and have had their moving days. We have guys that have been getting 24/7 perdiem for 8-10+ months after training.
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Originally Posted by chignutsak
(Post 994786)
What DOH would keep you afloat at Comair? I know a lot of my contemporaries have bailed because they had no choice...
I'll be gone next spring or early summer according to the current plan. |
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