Would any of the current CS pilots be able to tell me what I would be able to expect for first year annual pay? I realize your contract states 1st year FO pay is 40k but with the soft pay included, what would be an accurate conservative estimate as to that first year FO pay?

Thanks in advance to all who reply.

If by soft pay you mean per diem, fuel points, 401k matching, and forced overtime, I can give you an estimate. The amount of per diem you take home, if any, just depends how frugal you are. We get $2.30 an hour which equates to $55.20 a day. $5.20 of that goes to taxes. The 401k matching is 100% of the first 6%. So if you put the full amount in, you can earn an extra $2,400 that you won't see for a while (you can put a little more in if you work overtime). Fuel points are also very subjective. You could get $100 one week and none the next. The company just came out with a new policy that makes it a little easier to get paid overtime on day seven ($330 a day for first year FOs). Some people get it a lot, and some don't.

So let's say you contribute the full amount to the 401k, save $150 in per diem every trip, get $50 in fuel points every trip, and are forced to work overtime 11 times a year. Your take home pay after taxes (assuming you had two weeks of vacation) would be approximately $44,400. Like I said, $2,400 of that would be in a retirement account. This also does not account for health care (which is going up next year) or gas/tolls/parking to get to your domicile.

Thanks Chris. I guess I was thinking it was going to be higher than that. I am thinking I read somewhere that you could plan to be in the 50 to 55k range your first year. Not sure where I got it though. Thanks for the clarification.

Your 'forced overtime' statements are standing out in your post. I am guessing that is an issue with CS at the moment? Want to explain this a bit more to me or is it too touchy?

Anything else you wouldn't mind making a potential future CS employee aware of?

Thanks again.

Sure you could make $50-55k if you worked enough overtime. "Forced overtime" is not an issue for me because I haven't had to deal with it. Maybe that's because I try to volunteer for two days of overtime a month. Their new policy I mentioned has made it an easier pill to swallow for those who are affected.

I would make potential future CS employees aware that there is a strong push for a union here at CS due to recent events. If you don't want to deal with that, don't interview.

I would agree that $50K is a bit high for a first year FO unless you want to work a lot of OT.

Forced OT is not as bad as it sounds. If they can't get you home on day 7, then you normally get the first flight the next morning and are paid OT for your trouble. I like it. It is easier than working a full day of OT and it pays the same. It doesn't happen very often.

My only real complaint is the use of airport standby. Standby is needed, but right now there is no restriction on its use and some times they go a little overboard.

Most everything else is good, if not quite as lucrative as some other companies. I have had good experience with the people in scheduling when it comes to family emergencies.